Rafik Atayan, the headman of the village of Kajaran, the region of Syunik, who denied the news during a conversation with “Aravot” that he had been taken to the police station confirmed today that he had handed in a resignation under pressure. Rafik Atayan said that the local authorities pressed him (he was probably talking about the governor and the regional administration).
Let us remind that the management of the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine in Kajaran puts pressure on the population, even threatens to send law-enforcers, equipment for work to the village, if the residents don’t sign the agreements. Let us remind that according to 627-Ն Cabinet decision, the 181,7 ha territory of the village of Kajaran, which, according to the headman, also includes the cemetery of the village, was given to the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine for mining, considering the prospect of expanding the open pit. 600 residents of Kajaran who were angry with the Cabinet decision applied to President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and take the equipment sent to the village out of the territory.
There are 270 residents in the village today, the letter addressed to the Cabinet was signed also by residents of Kajaran who had left the village. The village of Kajaran states that this decision provides for evacuation of the whole village.
Rafik Atayan also told us that the resignation did not mean anything, he would continue the struggle, so that this decision would be found void.
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In two days Rafik Atayan will apply for leaving the Republican Party. He said if the party did not stand by his side when it came to the crunch, there was no point in remaining in the ranks of the Republican Party of Armenia.
Meri SOGHOMONYAN
