ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CHOCKED BY BEHAVIOR OF YEREVAN MAYOR - PRESS SECRETARY
Interfax
Dec 8 2010
Russia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsian has called impermissible the behavior
of Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglarian who beat a presidential aide.
"The president of Armenia has expressed his attitude toward such
cases many times. Such behavior is unacceptable and impermissible.
Especially when a government official is in question," presidential
press secretary Armen Arzumanian told Interfax on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday Arzumanian confirmed to Interfax the scandal
between Beglarian and a presidential protocol officer, Aram Kandaian.
"Unfortunately, the incident did take place. The descriptions in
our press are somewhat exaggerated, of course. For instance, there
was no abduction or severe beating but the conflict did take place,"
the press secretary said.
The Armenian media says that Beglarian beat Kandaian after a Placido
Domingo concert in Yerevan. The mayor's wife and her friend had taken
seats next to the seat of President Serzh Sargsian before the concert
while in line with protocol only the Catholics of all Armenians, the
speaker of parliament and prime minister can sit next to the president.
"The protocol section officer, Kandaian, asked Beglarian's wife to
move to another seat which aroused her indignation and she complained
to her husband and Beglarian decided to punish Kandaian," one of the
reports said.
After the concert the mayor drove Kandaian in his car to a plant in
Yerevan and beat him.
"Deputy head of the presidential administration and the president's
son-in-law Mikael Minasian talked to Beglarian and made it clear to him
that he had time until next Monday either to apologize to Kandaian and
the entire protocol service or to resign," the Armenian media reported.
The Yerevan city administration has refrained from any comments on
the publications saying that the press secretary of the administration
is busy.
From: A. Papazian
Interfax
Dec 8 2010
Russia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsian has called impermissible the behavior
of Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglarian who beat a presidential aide.
"The president of Armenia has expressed his attitude toward such
cases many times. Such behavior is unacceptable and impermissible.
Especially when a government official is in question," presidential
press secretary Armen Arzumanian told Interfax on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday Arzumanian confirmed to Interfax the scandal
between Beglarian and a presidential protocol officer, Aram Kandaian.
"Unfortunately, the incident did take place. The descriptions in
our press are somewhat exaggerated, of course. For instance, there
was no abduction or severe beating but the conflict did take place,"
the press secretary said.
The Armenian media says that Beglarian beat Kandaian after a Placido
Domingo concert in Yerevan. The mayor's wife and her friend had taken
seats next to the seat of President Serzh Sargsian before the concert
while in line with protocol only the Catholics of all Armenians, the
speaker of parliament and prime minister can sit next to the president.
"The protocol section officer, Kandaian, asked Beglarian's wife to
move to another seat which aroused her indignation and she complained
to her husband and Beglarian decided to punish Kandaian," one of the
reports said.
After the concert the mayor drove Kandaian in his car to a plant in
Yerevan and beat him.
"Deputy head of the presidential administration and the president's
son-in-law Mikael Minasian talked to Beglarian and made it clear to him
that he had time until next Monday either to apologize to Kandaian and
the entire protocol service or to resign," the Armenian media reported.
The Yerevan city administration has refrained from any comments on
the publications saying that the press secretary of the administration
is busy.
From: A. Papazian