Six cabinet members resigned on Monday after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan criticised the poor performance of judicial, legal and law enforcement agencies last week.
Rumours of the resignation of cabinet members first emerged on Sunday evening. On Monday morning, information about the resignation was confirmed by Argishti Kyaramyan, who has headed Armenia’s Investigative Committee since 2021. He said in a statement:
“This stems from a reassessment of the situation related to the functioning of the law enforcement system.”
Kyaramyan thanked Nikol Pashinyan and his government for their trust.
Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Rustam Badasyan, Head of the Anti-Corruption Committee Sasun Khachatryan, Head of the Supreme Judicial Council Karen Andreasyan are also leaving their posts. Armenian media reported that MPs Hovik Aghazaryan and Narek Zeynalyan from Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Pact party will soon resign their mandates. The PM summoned most of them to his office for a conversation on November 17.
Pashinyan explained his decision on Facebook:
“The reasons for making such a request are not personal, but systemic, as I have said publicly. At the same time, I cannot deny their merits in the development of our statehood and thank them all for their contribution and understanding of my request.”
On November 15, speaking at a government session, Nikol Pashinyan criticised the work of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. Citizens complain about the growth of crimes in the country and the high level of corruption, the Prime Minister said. Pashinyan also warned:
“My patience is exhausted. I tell you straight: the end of this has come. This cannot continue.”
