Armenian PM braces for second round of government layoffs amid growing discontent

Armenian top officials are facing another wave of resignations amid Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's dissatisfaction with their work.

"A second wave of dismissals will take place, as reported by official sources. According to the information received, other officials will also be targeted — Minister of Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan and Minister of Health Anait Avanesyan," Caliber.Az reports, citing the Yerevan-based publication Hraparak.

The publication writes that Pashinyan is dissatisfied with the fact that Narek Mkrtchyan, who comes from the Parakar community, failed to secure a victory for the ruling party Civil Contract in his native village.

"As for Anait Avanesyan, our sources say that the system is in a deplorable state, at least in the part related to public administration, and the issue of implementing health insurance has failed. The wave of resignations will not spare the governor class," the publication writes.

The reshuffle of key officials began on November 17, with a series of high-profile dismissals. Among those removed were Sassun Khachatryan, head of the Anti-Corruption Committee; Karen Andreasyan, chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council; Gnel Sanosyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure; Rustam Badalyan, head of the State Revenue Committee; Argishti Kyaramyan, head of the Investigative Committee; and Vahé Kazaryan, Minister of Internal Affairs.

By Khagan Isayev