Armenia bids farewell to Tigran Torossian as Speaker, but no one is sure just why

by Armen Hakobyan

Published: Saturday September 27, 2008

Tigran Torossian with his letter of resignation. Photolure.

Yerevan -  The Speaker of the National Assembly is the first in line to succeed the president of Armenia and the number-2 person in the country's official protocol. Speaker Tigran Torossian was forced to resign on September 19. The reasons for the change at the top remain a mystery - even though the machinations that led to his resignation began in the early summer: the resignation of a member of parliament, the nomination of the member's brother, Hovik Abrahamian, to replace him, the election of Mr. Abrahamian, and the decision of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia to ask Mr. Torossian to cede to Mr. Abrahamian.

Mr. Torossian had promised to say more about the circumstances, but he has not done so. He quit the Republican Party, of which he had been a member since the early days. He said some Republicans should "take their 30 pieces of silver and move on." Republican leaders repeated the line that Mr. Abrahamian is more suitable for the post than Mr. Torossian.

Levon Ter-Petrossian, the former president and current opposition figure, offered this interpretation: "Tigran Torossian did not create any political obstacles for the authorities. He was as loyal to the president, during both Robert Kocharian's and Serge Sargsian's presidency, as Hovik Abrahamian, if not more so." The only issue, he continued, is that "of redistributing the fields of influence, leverage, and wealth. Whatever maybe said about Tigran Torossian, he was not Hovik Abrahamian. Tigran Torossian was not borne from the criminal world. However, by appointing Hovik Abrahamian, we will completely criminalize our National Assembly. This is what it means."

During Mr. Ter-Petrossian's presidency, Mr. Abrahamian first became the mayor of Artashat and later, the governor of the Ararat province.

Mr. Sargsian and other leaders of the Republican Party have said on various occasions that Mr. Abrahamian has superb organizational skills. Aghasi Arshakian, a former member of parliament, told the daily Aravot, "I know that Hovik Abrahamian is a skilled hunter and when he took people hunting in [is native] Ararat province, he would lead the way. He organizes hunting perfectly, but during the 7-8 years when he was deputy prime minister and I was a member of Parliament, I did not see his good ‘organizational skills.' Maybe he is a good organizer in shadow activities, but in public matters, unfortunately, he is considered a disreputable figure."

The comments of those in favor of the change are no less sharp - and no more enlightening as to the reasons for the change. Ashot Aghababian (who likes to call himself Burnash after a movie character he resembles), a Republican member of parliament and the owner of the Hrazdan stadium and its adjacent market, told the newspaper Hayk, "Everything does not depend on being well aware of the law or well spoken. I have been a common soldier, a common member of parliament and I have never felt [Mr. Torossian's] presence as the Speaker of the National Assembly. He did not once invite me to a baptism or birthday. Some problems occurred with members of parliament and he did not intervene even once.

He did nothing. This is why I am saying that he is tired and wants to leave and we do not want to hinder him." Mr. Aghababian added that he did not even know whether Mr. Torossian "has a friend either in the Republican Party or in his personal life."

Though this statement may shed some light on the mentality of some members of parliament, it does not explain the change in parliamentary leadership. It may be most productive to see the change as part of a larger change in personnel that comes with a new presidency.

Police Chief Haik Haroutounian was replaced by Ararat governer Alik Sarkissian (an ally of Mr. Abrahamian's). Mikayel Haroutounian was replaced as defense minister by Seyran Ohanian. State Customs Committee President Armen Avetissian, long considered Mr. Sargsian's close ally, was replaced by his deputy Gagik Khachatrian. Moreover, Vahram Barseghian, head of the Customs Service and consider an ally of Mr. Kocharian's, was strongly criticized and then fired by Mr. Sargsian.

The resignation of the three ARF ministers in the government and their replacement by three other ARF members can also be seen as part of this process.

Then, just last week, Hovhannes Manoukyan, chair of the Court of Cassation, resigned without explanation and was replaced by Aram Mgrdumyan.

Though Mr. Sargsian and Mr. Kocharian have long been close allies, it appears that Mr. Sargsian wants to put his own core team in place. Members of the team know that they owe their appointment to the president.

Two key figures from Mr. Kocharian's administration remain in top posts: Armen Gevorgian, Mr. Kocharian's chief of staff, is deputy prime minister, and Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian retains his post.