By Alexander Pracht
Several high-ranking Armenian officials, including Interior Minister Vahe Ghazaryan, anti-corruption chief Sasun Khachatryan, and Supreme Judicial Council chairman Karen Andreasyan, handed in their resignations over the weekend, as requested by the country’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who confirmed the news today.
“I have requested the resignation of several high-ranking officials. This decision stems from the systemic failures I previously addressed publicly rather than personal disagreements,” Pashinyan wrote on Facebook, while also thanking the officials for their contributions.
Other resigned officials include Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan, Investigative Committee Chairman Argisghti Kyaramyan, and Rustam Badasyan, the chief of the State Revenue Committee, Armenia’s tax and customs authority. Most of the resignations have been confirmed by the respective authorities, while some were reported by the sources affiliated with the Armenian government.
This string of departures follows the harsh remarks Pashinyan voiced during a government session on Friday, when he criticized Armenia’s law enforcement and judiciary for their lack of progress in fighting corruption and addressing systemic inefficiencies.
“Some trials have been going for seven years, and our citizens can’t believe I’m not behind this ridiculousness,” Pashinyan said, underscoring public disillusionment with the judiciary. He also lamented the lack of accountability, adding, “Four years ago, I said that those accused of corruption were spending their days partying in restaurants, and I’m repeating the same today. The public expects them to be held accountable, yet those who once looked down on others still continue to do so!”
Turning his attention to the police, Pashinyan highlighted enduring issues, stating, “Whenever I visit a village in Armenia, the locals tell me they are as afraid of each other as they were before the revolution.”
He further criticized both institutions for failing to deliver results despite significant government support. Pashinyan noted that when his administration took office, law enforcement and judicial officials claimed their inefficiencies were due to insufficient resources. However, after receiving all requested funding, these sectors still fall short of expectations, according to Pashinyan.
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