YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Former Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has decided to resign as first deputy chairman of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), it was announced on Tuesday, June 26.
The HHK spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, said Karapetyan feels that he must resign from the party leadership because he is no longer “actively involved in political processes.”
“I find that very normal,” Sharmazanov told reporters. “Karen Karapetyan is a mature politician. It’s up to him to decide whether or not to be the first deputy chairman. I respect that decision by Karen Karapetyan.”
Asked whether Karapetyan will also end his membership in the HHK altogether, Sharmazanov said: “There is no such decision at this point. There has been no talk of leaving the party.”
Karapetyan took up the number two position in the HHK hierarchy in November 2016 two months after then President Serzh Sargsyan appointed him as Armenia’s prime minister. He ran the government until Sarkisian served out his final presidential term and controversially became prime minister on April 17.
Karapetyan remained in government as first deputy prime minister serving under a new, parliamentary system of government. The former business executive took over as acting prime minister on April 23 immediately after Sarkisian resigned amid mass protests against his continued rule.
