Armenian PM's brother-in-law refuses to run in parliamentary elections

Hrachya Hakobyan, a ruling Civil Contract party MP and the brother-in-law of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has announced that he will not take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“I simply did not want to be included in the electoral list,” Hakobyan said, adding that he had discussed the matter with Pashinyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media. 

“He reacted quite normally. There is no particular reason — I am just taking a break from active politics. I am not leaving politics altogether; I will remain a member of the party. I do not yet know what I will be doing.”

Hakobyan also denied reports suggesting that he might be appointed as Armenia’s ambassador to any country.

“There have been no discussions at all regarding my future activities,” he stressed.

Local outlets note that Hakob Arshakyan, Kristine Poghosyan and Khachatur Sukiasyan will likewise not be included in the ruling party’s electoral list.

By Khagan Isayev