The outspoken blogger, Artur Chakhoyan, entered the district administration building on April 30 to try to attend a public discussion between local government officials and ordinary residents. He argued there with one of those officials before being attacked by several other men also working for the local government.
Ter-Margarian joined in the beating, repeatedly punching Chakhoyan in front of reporters. The latter was detained by police before being hospitalized.
Ter-Margarian was charged with violent assault along with three of his subordinates. But investigators refrained from arresting him. Nor was he fired by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinian despite an uproar from opposition leaders and human rights activists.
Ter-Margarian is a senior member of the pro-Western Hanrapetutyun (Republic) party that helped Avinian become mayor through a power-sharing deal struck in the wake of the ruling Civil Contract party’s worse-than-expected showing in a 2023 municipal election. The Hanrapetutyun leader, Aram Sarkisian, has essentially justified the Nor Nork chief’s actions, calling them a legitimate response to a Russian-backed “provocation.”
Political allies of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian have dismissed suggestions that the mayor is reluctant to sack Ter-Margarian for fear of losing his post. One of them, parliament speaker Alen Simonian, urged Ter-Margarian to resign on May 8.
The district chief announced his resignation at a weekly meeting of municipal officials chaired by Avinian. He blamed opposition members of the Armenian parliament for his decision, saying that they are continuing to exploit the April 30 “provocation” for political aims.
“I welcome your decision and wish you success in all your future undertakings,” responded Avinian.
The mayor at the same time urged Yerevan officials to display “utmost restraint” and avoid “such methods” of responding to what he too described as provocations.
Investigators have also brought hooliganism charges against Chakhoyan. The blogger, who spent several days in hospital, is prosecuted in connection with another, nonviolent incident that happened in the Nor Nork administration building the day before his beating.