Pashinyan appoints former Armenian parliament speaker as security secretary UPDATED

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signed a decision dismissing Armen Grigoryan as Secretary of the country’s National Security Council.

According to Armenian media, in a separate decision, Pashinyan officially appointed Alen Simonyan as the new Secretary of Armenia’s National Security Council.

11:07

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is reportedly planning to appoint former parliament speaker Alen Simonyan as secretary of the Security Council, replacing incumbent Armen Grigoryan, Sputnik Armenia reports.

Simonyan has been without a government position since the parliamentary elections held on June 7.

Earlier, Armenian newspaper Hraparak reported that Pashinyan was unlikely to reappoint Grigoryan, who has served as secretary of the Security Council for nearly eight years.

According to MakaryanNews, Pashinyan has found Simonyan a position corresponding to his previous status and intends to appoint him to the post in the coming days. The report said the position would provide Simonyan with security, official vehicles and broad powers.

“According to information we have received, Pashinyan intends in the coming days to appoint Simonyan as secretary of the Security Council, where he will replace Armen Grigoryan,” the report said.

The report also noted that figures in government circles have jokingly referred to the appointment as a “wedding gift” from Pashinyan to Simonyan, who is set to marry for the third time.

Simonyan's wedding to his fiancée is scheduled for September 5.

By Aghakazim Guliyev