Gagik Tsarukyan resigns as head of Prosperous Armenia party

"I'm abandoning active politics. I am no longer the chairman of the party. However, I will continue to serve my country and my people. This will be done in other areas. I will continue to build churches, schools, gyms, help people of culture and science. I will be doing so as an Armenian, as a citizen of Armenia,» Tsarukyan said on Thursday at an emergency convention of the party. 

He said he will also resign as head of Prosperous Armenia faction in the National Assembly. 

In his words, these decisions came as a result of long speculations. «This is my personal decision and I hope you will take it with understanding.» 

He said he had never pursued his personal goals over the years of his political activity and never used public support for his own benefit. «I never exchanged people's belief for positions and other benefits and never bargained behind the back of my team and people,» he said. «The only goal I pursued these years was to see a mile, not tears in the eyes of my people.» 

Tsarukyan also said that he searched for solutions to the society's problems by using all political means. «But I have always been against 'maidans', and I am honest also here. I would hate myself if the blood of even one innocent man was spilled. This is beyond my compass.» 

He asked everybody not to appeal to him with political problems, since he will not interfere in the party's decisions. 

«I no longer have ties with Prosperous Armenia. You will elect a new chairman and a new board soon and the party's fate is now in your hands. This is my final decision,» he said and thanked his fellow partisans. 

Tsarukyan nominated secretary of the party's parliamentary faction Ms. Naira Zohrabyan as a candidate for the post of chairperson of the party because of her popularity and loyalty to the team. 

In February, discord between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik Tsarukyan escalated. 

Speaking on February 12 at a meeting of the executive board of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, President Sargsyan lashed out at his former coalition partner describing him as ‘a scourge for the country who lacks intelligence, skills and education to govern Armenia.’ 

Sargsyan told Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan to instruct corresponding bodies to thoroughly investigate the veracity of “unverified reports” implicating Tsarukyan in large-scale tax evasion. 

In retaliation to Sargsyan’s crackdown, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party said the following day that the current situation in the country requires solution and 'the only solution is a complete change of power through extraordinary presidential elections.' 

Gagik Tsarukyan said also he was offered the post of president of the country but only after constitutional reforms that would turn Armenia into a parliamentary republic. 

He claimed that the reform is aimed at enabling Sargsyan to stay in power after the end of his second and final presidential term in 2018. 

Tsarukyan said he declined the offer causing Sargsyan’s anger. 

Prosperous Armenia, Heritage party and the Armenian National Congress decided to stage a joint rally on February 20, but a little later the rally was canceled and Tsarukyan called on people to solve all their problems by peaceful means. 

Prosperous Armenia is the second largest force in the parliament controlling 36 of 131 parliamentary seats. 

It was part of coalition governments from 2007 to 2012. According to some estimates, Tsarukyan is the third-richest person of Armenia. ---0----