Tweet
Will the `Days of the General' Come Back?
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/07/06/88364/
July 6, 2012 12:23
Who will win the election in the town of Metsamor?
On September 9, an election for the mayor will be held also in the
town of Metsamor, the region of Armavir. Official nominations will
commence on August 5, but names of possible candidates have been
circulating already. The aspirants are Robert Grigoryan, a member of
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the current mayor, and Ashot
Grigoryan, the former mayor. It is possible that the Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP) will nominate its own candidate, since the PAP won
the majority of votes in this community during the parliamentary
election. There are speculations that Susanna Hakobyan, who was in
36th place on the PAP list for proportional representation during the
parliamentary election, may be the PAP candidate. It is rumored that
Sargis Harutyunyan, the head of the Metsamor sector of Armavir Power
Supply Network, wants to participate in the election too.
The interesting thing about this election is that the town of
Metsamor, as well as other communities of Armavir, has been perceived
as areas under General Manvel Grigoryan's rule since the independence
of Armenia. Ashot Grigoryan, the general's brother, has held that
office with the active support of the general for many years and there
was no progress in Metsamor in the years of his rule. The general
supported his brother only in terms of elections, afterwards, not only
did they not do anything here, but they also tried to get as much
benefit as possible. Besides, the atmosphere of fear was waging, since
Ashot Grigoryan, being supported by his brother, the general, was for
solving problems using brute force. Residents of Metsamor still
remember the arrogant attitude of Ashot Grigoryan and his entourage.
As a result of a local election in 2008, because of deteriorated
relations between
Manvel Grigoryan and his brother and nephews, Ashot Grigoryan said
goodbye to the office of the Metsamor mayor. Let us remind that the
relations between the general and the ruling party were not smooth
because of the first president's return to politics. The general's
relatives argued with Manvel Grigoryan who `took sides' with
Ter-Petrossian. It even came to a public showdown in the village. RPA
member Robert Grigoryan, who, obsessed with the desire to privatize
what had been left behind by Ashot Grigoryan, caused his own party's
defeat in the parliamentary election on May 6, had been elected the
mayor. The RPA got only 1000 votes from 4500-voter community. The PAP
was in the first place, the Heritage Party in the second. Concerning
the latter, the consistent approach of the Heritage Party on the issue
of nuclear power plant workers, because of which many issues were
solved, played an essential role. As for the current mayor, the locals
tell that keeping without irrigation and deserting even lawns and
vicinities of kindergartens, he sells them, disregarding even the
architectural image of the town.
The possible PAP candidate is not talked much about, since, in the
locals' opinion, despite the fact that her party won the majority of
votes during the parliamentary election, Susanna Hakobyan doesn't have
many chances. Sargis Harutyunyan, the head of the Metsamor sector of
Armavir Power Supply Network, who is also the godson of Ruben
Hovsepyan, the Armenian Attorney General's brother, and the local
coordinator of Nig Aparan, a patriotic union, is perceived as the most
probable rival of Ashot Grigoryan and Robert Grigoryan here. During
his 3-4-year tenure as the head of the power supply network, he has
managed to get a positive image with his readiness to help the locals
with various issues, besides, he, sponsored by Nig Aparan, has had the
town landscaped and decorated.
NELLY GRIGORYAN
From: A. Papazian
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/07/06/88364/
July 6, 2012 12:23
Who will win the election in the town of Metsamor?
On September 9, an election for the mayor will be held also in the
town of Metsamor, the region of Armavir. Official nominations will
commence on August 5, but names of possible candidates have been
circulating already. The aspirants are Robert Grigoryan, a member of
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the current mayor, and Ashot
Grigoryan, the former mayor. It is possible that the Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP) will nominate its own candidate, since the PAP won
the majority of votes in this community during the parliamentary
election. There are speculations that Susanna Hakobyan, who was in
36th place on the PAP list for proportional representation during the
parliamentary election, may be the PAP candidate. It is rumored that
Sargis Harutyunyan, the head of the Metsamor sector of Armavir Power
Supply Network, wants to participate in the election too.
The interesting thing about this election is that the town of
Metsamor, as well as other communities of Armavir, has been perceived
as areas under General Manvel Grigoryan's rule since the independence
of Armenia. Ashot Grigoryan, the general's brother, has held that
office with the active support of the general for many years and there
was no progress in Metsamor in the years of his rule. The general
supported his brother only in terms of elections, afterwards, not only
did they not do anything here, but they also tried to get as much
benefit as possible. Besides, the atmosphere of fear was waging, since
Ashot Grigoryan, being supported by his brother, the general, was for
solving problems using brute force. Residents of Metsamor still
remember the arrogant attitude of Ashot Grigoryan and his entourage.
As a result of a local election in 2008, because of deteriorated
relations between
Manvel Grigoryan and his brother and nephews, Ashot Grigoryan said
goodbye to the office of the Metsamor mayor. Let us remind that the
relations between the general and the ruling party were not smooth
because of the first president's return to politics. The general's
relatives argued with Manvel Grigoryan who `took sides' with
Ter-Petrossian. It even came to a public showdown in the village. RPA
member Robert Grigoryan, who, obsessed with the desire to privatize
what had been left behind by Ashot Grigoryan, caused his own party's
defeat in the parliamentary election on May 6, had been elected the
mayor. The RPA got only 1000 votes from 4500-voter community. The PAP
was in the first place, the Heritage Party in the second. Concerning
the latter, the consistent approach of the Heritage Party on the issue
of nuclear power plant workers, because of which many issues were
solved, played an essential role. As for the current mayor, the locals
tell that keeping without irrigation and deserting even lawns and
vicinities of kindergartens, he sells them, disregarding even the
architectural image of the town.
The possible PAP candidate is not talked much about, since, in the
locals' opinion, despite the fact that her party won the majority of
votes during the parliamentary election, Susanna Hakobyan doesn't have
many chances. Sargis Harutyunyan, the head of the Metsamor sector of
Armavir Power Supply Network, who is also the godson of Ruben
Hovsepyan, the Armenian Attorney General's brother, and the local
coordinator of Nig Aparan, a patriotic union, is perceived as the most
probable rival of Ashot Grigoryan and Robert Grigoryan here. During
his 3-4-year tenure as the head of the power supply network, he has
managed to get a positive image with his readiness to help the locals
with various issues, besides, he, sponsored by Nig Aparan, has had the
town landscaped and decorated.
NELLY GRIGORYAN
From: A. Papazian