Dear compatriots, dear Yerevanians, I appeal to you

The process taking place today is unprecedented for Yerevan. It’s the first time Yerevan Mayor is going to get impeachment. Such an initiative seems to have really strong reasons. For instance, city budget embezzlement or some other crimes related to my activity.
The main reason is my resignation from the “Civil Contract” party.
In 2018, the Armenian people made the revolution in which each of us had our participation.
After winning the revolution the mayoral elections were held first and we as a revolutionary team were supposed to win and fix the will of the people so as later we could go to parliamentary elections and declare people’s will throughout the country.
“My step” faction was formed comprising 27 people from the “Civil Contract” party and 30 people from other parties as well as non-party activists. The fact that the faction included many non-party members or members of other parties reflects the whole palette of the revolutionary team.
Our victory in the election was really convincing – about 82%. I think the people gave their votes not to a particular party but to “My Step” faction, to the Revolution, to the revolutionary team and its leader Nikol Pashinyan, to mayor’s candidate Hayk Marutyan, to popular and respected figures such as popular singer Arthur Ispiryan, well-known blogger Izabella Abgaryan, architect Arsen Karapetyan and many other activities who devoted many years to bring the victory of revolution in Armenia.
There is an importance nuance in this situation: the revolutionary team didn’t go to the election under the flag of the “Civil Contract” party because the revolution was made by people and not a single party and because the name of that party was mainly unfamiliar for people. Thus, it should be noted that at the election people voted for “My Step”. Today, the group initiated the process of impeachment justifies it by my resignation from CC party and “My Step” faction, so I have no right to remain in this office. I officially claim, that I resigned from the “Civil Contract” party by I haven’t left “My Step” faction and carry on being the member of the faction, so these statements are false.
It’s unacceptable for me that the “Civil Contract” party consider themselves the only descendants of the revolutionary ideology; it is unfair in relation to thousands of other people who participated in the revolution not being members of this party and who joined the movement in the hope to have a better Armenia.
They blame me for deviating from the revolutionary principles. However, there are a number of reasons resulted in disagreement between me and the ruling party. Among them are the significant rise of salaries of ministers and deputy ministers, particularly of those who have taken the office due to the revolution. I thought that the aim of ideological revolution is to increase the level of welfare of others while, in fact they started from improving their own welfare. All this on the background of 30% poverty in the country.
I raised these issues at the party sessions but got no reply.

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There were cases when some top officials asked me to appoint their relatives to this or that position or, vise-versa, to fire this or that employee. But the revolution took place to put an end such phenomena, when oppositional political views could cause dismissals, when the nearest people and friends could get privileges in construction permissions etc. I hadn’t expected such situations when made up my mind to join the party. Purchasing a government car priced USD 200 000 by means of budget and proving it to be necessary is unacceptable for me during such economic hardships we are encountering. In 2019, I sold the Mersedes C attached to the Mayor of Yerevan and deposited the amount into the city budget. All this time I drive an economical “Nissan”. I have no driver to say nothing of a bodyguard. And don’t think it’s a heroism, I am sure it is normal. That is my view, and this way should think those who got the mandate as a result of the revolution.
When I gave my application for resignation from the party to Suren Papikyan, I said that I would keep it a secret so as no one could make use of this fact in political speculations. Let they speak about it when they consider it right.

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Why did I keep silence? I will answer. I kept silence no to aggravate the situation in the country. Nevertheless, the CC team thinks the situation in the country is so stable that it high time to start the process.

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As for me, the most important is townspeople’s appreciation. Particularly, in recent days I have heard lots of opinions, words of appreciation and support and I am really grateful for them, dear Yerevanians.
As regards the corruption I would like to say, that during the last three years the Control Department of the Municipality of Yerevan carried out hundreds of inspections inside the system, as a result 64 cases were sent to legal bodies. 59 audit inspections were performed and 10 cases sent to investigation. The staffs of administrative districts in their turn revealed numerous violations. You can check the statistics.
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So, what about my losing the ties with the faction? Yes, our relations spoilt because in the most responsible issues, such as confirmation of the project of bus procurement by means of the city budget, they didn’t provide the quorum. It took us great efforts to pass the project. We have different views in many aspects.
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The whole process of so-called impeachment is carried out by rather filthy methods: rumours are spread about me such as I seem to be in cahoots with some former officials. I consider the process to be the manifestation of disrespect for democracy and the votes of Yerevanians.
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I think you will finish what you have started, so as I am still the Mayor, I appeal to the heads of all city services to do their duties with maximal responsibility, high discipline, with doubled devotion. You are obliged to ensure the safety and convenience of townspeople. I am grateful to all members of the staff for teamwork, to my team. And the most important, thank you, Yerevanians, for your trust. Sorry for what I haven’t done. Thank you and God bless all of us.