Women close deputy premier's way
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Territorial Administration, Armen Gevorgyan, today was in Shirak province where accompanied by Governor Felix Tsolakyan he visited several communities of the province. Later in the local Governor's Office, Armen Gevorgyan held a closed-door consultation which was also attended by Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan.
Before the arrival of the deputy premier, residents of a run-down building in Antaravan district in Gyumri city, held a protest outside the Governor's Office, Gyumri-based GALA TV reports. The group demanded a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister to get an answer to their concerns. In particular, the angered citizens wondered when the executive body would allocate money for renovating run-down buildings in the city.
The protesters were received by Khachik Poghosyan, head of the staff of the Shirak Governor's Office, who, with special psychological tricks peculiar to a regional official, diverted the attention of the protesters, thereby enabling Armen Gevorgyan to enter the building through the back door, unnoticed by the crowd.
After the consultation, Mr Gevorgyan refrained from answering journalists' questions, saying he would elucidate everything in a press release.
However, the Minister of Territorial Administration was surprised to find a group of residents blocking the way of his car behind the building. They demanded that the government official listen to them. For about ten minutes, the Gyumri mayor and Shirak governor tried to persuade the residents to open the road, with Armen Gevorgyan staying in the car.
"Get off the car and listen to us. Why are you hiding from ordinary people?" said the crowd.
"Let them go their way for my sake. I shall listen to your demands," said Mayor Samvel Balasanyan.
Insulted by the deputy premier's indifference the disparate women began to cry and opened the way for the car.
