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Armenia: How Far Will the Government’s Cabinet Changes Go?

December 20, 2010 - 2:01pm, by Marianna Grigoryan

Armenia

Sarkisian’s government cleanup may be far from over. (Photo: Dean C.K. Cox)

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (center), seen here during a campaign rally march in February 2008 prior to the presidential election, recently fired several of his cabinet officials with more expected in the near future. Government officials claim the cabinet reshuffle is an attempt to root out corruption and remove people who are neglecting their duties in their ministries. (Photo: Dean C.K. Cox)

After the dismissals of two cabinet ministers and the resignation of the mayor of Yerevan, the Armenian capital is abuzz with speculation about how far President Serzh Sargsyan will go with what is billed as a get-down-and-get-gritty campaign to clean up government. Some opposition skeptics, however, counter that the reshuffles are more cosmetic than real.

The alleged campaign kicked off in early November with the dismissal of two deputy health ministers, Tatul Hakobian and Abraham Manukian, a few days after Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian had pointed out examples of supposed corruption and neglect of duties in several ministries. No official explanation was given for the dismissals, however.

On December 9, Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian was sacked “for improper performance of his official duties, a dismissal related to Danielian’s alleged failure to punish an agency director for beating an employee. Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsian was the next to be fired on December 16; reasons were not provided.

“The authorities are making real changes,” asserted Republican Party spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov. “They’re saying ‘no’ to dishonest officials, to neglect [of official duties] and other vicious phenomena.”

Presidential spokesperson Armen Arzumanian has declared that further “serious staff changes” are expected in the near future.

But some observers question how deep the recent changes actually go.

“Basically, I do not see any changes,” commented political analyst Yervand Bozoian. “One team member is replaced by another one; and it’s not that real, radical, revolutionary changes are taking place . . ."

Many Yerevan residents would nonetheless call the changes striking. The December 8 resignation of ex-Mayor Gagik Beglarian following allegations that he had beaten up a presidential administration official continues to arouse interest. Elected just nine days after Beglarian’s resignation, Karen Karapetian, head of ArmRosGazprom, the national gas distribution network, was inaugurated as mayor on December 20.

Some local media report that Beglarian, a member of the Republican Party’s political council, has tumbled from grace since his resignation.

The Aravot daily alleged on December 17 that major tax audits have begun in some businesses owned by Beglarian. “Before Beglarian’s resignation, the authorities, from the president to the tax service, were ready to overlook his business activities,” the paper wrote. “Now the situation has changed.”

Many Republican Party members have called for Beglarian’s expulsion from the party and for a criminal prosecution against the ex-mayor for assault and battery.

On December 17, Deputy Armenian Police Chief Hunan Poghosian, though, denied rumors that such a prosecution has, in fact, already begun. A close associate of the ex-mayor, who wished to remain anonymous, told EurasiaNet.org that Beglarian has left Armenia.

While some analysts have shrugged off Beglarian’s resignation, opposition leader Raffi Hovhannisian, founding chairperson of the Heritage Party, has endorsed what he has described as Sargsyan’s decision not to tolerate violence by government officials.

“Many people are assaulted nowadays by government members, but if the victim is not a state official . . . the issue will never be discussed at press conferences and court sessions,” said Hovhannisian. “If this indicates how things will work in the future, then it’s very good.”

Still, these “signals” are not visible for everybody.

A senior member of the Armenian National Congress, the country’s largest opposition coalition, argues that the current disclosures are only connected to the political atmosphere created by the government after the 2008 presidential elections, a vote the ANC claims was falsified.

“Serzh Sargsyan created an environment in which the biggest election falsifiers will occasionally challenge him,” Zurabian said. “That’s why it’s very natural that Serzh Sargsyan faces such challenges from time to time.” The ANC’s leader, ex-President Levon Ter Petrosian lost in his 2009 bid for the post of mayor; the party has since boycotted the Yerevan city council over charges of vote falsification.

Yet the Republican Party nevertheless maintains that the changes are real.

“The president is keeping his promises: Everybody is equal before the law,” said Party spokesperson Sharmazanov. “The upcoming elections or PR have nothing to do with all of this.”

Editor's note:

Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter based in Yerevan, and the editor of MediaLab.am, which receives funding from the Open Society Assistance Foundation – Armenia.

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