Mikael Minasyan’s appointment as the first deputy head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) election headquarters is a signal to external forces, rather than a means to control Hovik Abrahamyan, according to the director of P.Art PR company.“Minasyan is meant to bring some refinement to RPA election headquarters,” Karen Kocharyan said.

“For over 2 years, Armenian authorities have been stressing the necessity for fair and transparent elections, enabling the accession of political forces, rather than oligarchs, to parliament. Now, on the other hand, Hovik Abrahamyan embodies the forces responsible for previous elections,” he noted.

As the member of Armenian PR Association Armen Martirosyan, in turn, noted, the introduction of Minasyan symbolizes the authorities’ readiness for change and innovation.

On November 3, by the decree of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, the first deputy chief of presidential staff Mikael Minasyan was dismissed to take a post at RPA election headquarters.

On November 1, Armenian parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan announced his resignation to head RPA electoral headquarters and more effectively conduct the campaign. Abrahamyan will officially resign at November 14 parliamentary sitting.