\”THE WORST IS STILL TO COME\”

The politicians interpret the murderous assault against Vardan Ghukasyan and predict that the Worst is still to come.

The politicians have different interpretations about the attempt on the life Gyumri\’s mayor. Some of them are sure that the accident has indirect connection with the elections; the others think that murderous assault has no connection with policy. Manuk Gasparyan, the leader of Democratic Way Party, NA parliamentarian thinks that the worst is still to come. M. Gasparyan is sure that two big war processes will be launched out of Yerevan before or during elections. Manuk Gasparyan connects the accident with the election by 90%, and the rest 10 % he connects with the mayor\’s economic activities. “The 70-80% of Gyumri\’s property belongs to Ghukasyan\’s family. But I connect with the policy more. Perhaps some of he candidates didn\’t like his nomination by majority electoral system, so they wanted to take revenge. That shot was taken by citizens of Gyumri.” Manuk Gasparyan is sure that \’Ghukasyan will apprehend, he will be ordered but he won\’t commit the orders any more. This is a serious incident. The policy must be more aware and avoid of murders in front of world community in the upcoming elections”.
Leader of “National Unity” party noted, “Armenia has kicked off its recurrent criminal developments. What consequences did Shahen Hovasapyan\’s assassination take, the same will happen to this awful assault?”
Thus, who and why wanted to kill the mayor. There are several versions. By the way, we think that it isn\’t accidental that Vardan Ghukasyan was attacked out of Gyumri and just the same day when Serge Sargsyan was nominated as the candidate for the PM\’s post. We also shouldn\’t forget that Serge Sargsyan had his direct participation in Vardan Ghukasyan RPA membership. He was also making great efforts for Robert Kocharyan to become the president in 2003. The citizens of Gyumri assure that Robert Kocharyan has become an idol for Vardan Ghukasyan. The latter also maintained good relations with Arthur Baghdasaryan before “Rule of Law” Party left the coalition. Vardan Ghukasyan also has bad relations with “Dashink” regional structure, and has even declared for several times that he doesn\’t love Samvel Babayan. But according to our interlocutors, the less possible version is the political one.
The main version of the assassination deals with the Mayor\’s economic activities and criminal ties. A lot of people can remember what problems the Mayor\’s son and his closest relatives caused him for their committed murders, fights and armed quarrels. According to preliminary information, the murder committed in “Duet” cafй in Gyumri had committed just the Mayor\’s son but that information was immediately denied by the Prosecutor\’s office. The citizens of Gyumri also assure that all murders connect with the Mayor and his team, which are immediately denied by the Prosecutor\’s office. The murders are committed against figures famous in criminal world, so it isn\’t excluded that the murderous assault was committed in revenge. We shouldn\’t also forget that Vardan Ghukasyan liked weapons himself, and the citizens of Gyumri still remember how he was shooting in his Oasis” restaurant complex or how he attacked on journalists. The citizens of Gyumri also remember Vardan Ghukasyan\’s “rich” lexicon, especially during his conversation with his subordinates /who are his relatives/. Almost all shops and trading stalls on Shirakatsi Street, a lot of fuel stations, belong to Vardan Ghukasyan.

Vardan Ghuksayan is also famous for his “good” deeds. For example “Anania Shirakatsi” medal, which Robert Kocharyan has given to him, he has made essential contribution in development of communities. Next “good” thing is the Mayor\’s devotion of what he is always proud. There is even an anecdote about it: someone wanted to bribe Vardan Ghukasyan but the latter didn\’t take it, crossed himself and told: “God forbid, I\’m not engaged in such things, turn to my brother”. As for his brother, Gevorg Ghukasyan, he is the director of town garden of Gyumri and runs his brother\’s shadow money.
We wish Vardan Ghukasyan strong health and want to remind him Karen Demirchyan\’s last words pronounced on October 27, “the questions aren\’t solved in that way”.