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GHUKSAYAN UNDER/ON ATTACK: FIRE-FILLED MAYOR OF GYUMRI SAYS ADVERSARY "WAS KNEELING AT MY DOORS"
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
26.07.12 | 15:45
Ashot Aghababyan (left), Vardan Ghukasyan
Mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghukasyan, who has fallen out of favor with
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), wrote an open letter
addressed to RPA lawmaker Ashot Aghababyan, calling him "Vasak"
(referring to Vasak Syuni, 5th century Armenian prince who was known
in the history as a traitor) and some other offensive epithets.
Judging by the content of the letter and its mood, the notorious
mayor was extremely irritated by the interview to Panorama.am given by
Aghababyan, who was elected lawmaker in Shirak province by majoritarian
vote. Aghababyan in his interview has stated, in particular, that it
would be better for Gyumri if Ghukasyan were no longer mayor.
"He [Ghukasyan] has been a mayor for so many years, however, nothing
has been changed in the city (the same holes in the streets, people
looking for a shelter, endless problems) so far. I believe that a
change is needed by all means. I know one thing - he must not be
the mayor [of Gyumri] and that's it. Gyumretsis think the same way;
Gyumretsis are tired of him and he is tired of them," Aghababyan said.
He also said that "even Ghukasyan does not need himself, how can the
RPA need him?", and that he has never been a significant resource
for the RPA.
The RPA stated earlier that at the September 9 mayoral elections
it would not support Ghukasyan who has been heading the city for 14
years. Instead, RPA has endorsed Samvel Balasanyan, the candidate of
the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP). Prior to this statement Ghukasyan
resigned from the position of head of the RPA Shirak branch.
Ghukasyan in his letter says that he is sorry about " having Burnash
[Aghababyan's nickname] elected lawmaker twice."
"It was you, the former canteen server, who was kneeling at my doors
with your family members in "Oasis" [a cafe in downtown Gyumri, owned
by Ghukasyan] and expressing gratitude for helping you to become
an MP! What have you done for Gyumri, except for keeping your own
business? Be aware that I am going to evict people like you from
Gyumri. You have become a man; you have become a nightingale and
started warbling. Are you worth that much? You are a real Vasakyan,
you cannot be Aghababyan," Ghukasyan's statement reads.
Ghukasyan, whose political future seems at stake, was criticized
by the PAP, too. In particular, PAP lawmaker Naira Zohrabyan in an
interview with Hayots Ashkharh daily said that "the situation over
the mayoral elections in Gyumri is so bizarre that there should
be serious consideration toward freeing the second largest city of
Armenia not only from that character [Ghukasyan] but also from all
of his malignancy as soon as possible."
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
26.07.12 | 15:45
Ashot Aghababyan (left), Vardan Ghukasyan
Mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghukasyan, who has fallen out of favor with
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), wrote an open letter
addressed to RPA lawmaker Ashot Aghababyan, calling him "Vasak"
(referring to Vasak Syuni, 5th century Armenian prince who was known
in the history as a traitor) and some other offensive epithets.
Judging by the content of the letter and its mood, the notorious
mayor was extremely irritated by the interview to Panorama.am given by
Aghababyan, who was elected lawmaker in Shirak province by majoritarian
vote. Aghababyan in his interview has stated, in particular, that it
would be better for Gyumri if Ghukasyan were no longer mayor.
"He [Ghukasyan] has been a mayor for so many years, however, nothing
has been changed in the city (the same holes in the streets, people
looking for a shelter, endless problems) so far. I believe that a
change is needed by all means. I know one thing - he must not be
the mayor [of Gyumri] and that's it. Gyumretsis think the same way;
Gyumretsis are tired of him and he is tired of them," Aghababyan said.
He also said that "even Ghukasyan does not need himself, how can the
RPA need him?", and that he has never been a significant resource
for the RPA.
The RPA stated earlier that at the September 9 mayoral elections
it would not support Ghukasyan who has been heading the city for 14
years. Instead, RPA has endorsed Samvel Balasanyan, the candidate of
the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP). Prior to this statement Ghukasyan
resigned from the position of head of the RPA Shirak branch.
Ghukasyan in his letter says that he is sorry about " having Burnash
[Aghababyan's nickname] elected lawmaker twice."
"It was you, the former canteen server, who was kneeling at my doors
with your family members in "Oasis" [a cafe in downtown Gyumri, owned
by Ghukasyan] and expressing gratitude for helping you to become
an MP! What have you done for Gyumri, except for keeping your own
business? Be aware that I am going to evict people like you from
Gyumri. You have become a man; you have become a nightingale and
started warbling. Are you worth that much? You are a real Vasakyan,
you cannot be Aghababyan," Ghukasyan's statement reads.
Ghukasyan, whose political future seems at stake, was criticized
by the PAP, too. In particular, PAP lawmaker Naira Zohrabyan in an
interview with Hayots Ashkharh daily said that "the situation over
the mayoral elections in Gyumri is so bizarre that there should
be serious consideration toward freeing the second largest city of
Armenia not only from that character [Ghukasyan] but also from all
of his malignancy as soon as possible."