By Andranik Aboyan
Armenia’s political landscape continues to show signs of increasing authoritarianism as the resignation of Justice Minister Grigor Minasyan highlights the growing intolerance for dissent, even within the ruling Civil Contract party. Despite his loyalty and contributions to the government, Minasyan was pressured into stepping down by over two dozen Civil Contract lawmakers, with vague references to dissatisfaction over his “staffing policy” being the only explanation given.
The controversy appears to center around Minasyan’s appointment of Sirvard Gevorgyan as deputy justice minister, who was suspected of having sympathies for opposition leader Robert Kocharyan. Although Gevorgyan denied these accusations and resigned shortly after her appointment, the internal backlash was swift. Even Minasyan’s defense of his record and condemnation of “unfair and petty attacks” was not enough to quell the calls for his removal.
Minasian’s departure signals that unwavering loyalty to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration is no longer sufficient protection from political purges. His public resignation statement noted the difficulty of holding office without support from fellow party members, a clear acknowledgment of internal factionalism. Despite his years of service and reforms in the justice sector, Minasian’s connection to his fugitive relatives, linked to former President Serzh Sargasyan, may have also contributed to the distrust from within the ruling party.
This incident reflects a broader trend of stifling ideological opponents and consolidating control within the Civil Contract party. As opposition leaders and legal experts have long warned, Armenia’s political system is becoming less democratic with each passing day, as loyalty is no longer a guarantee of safety from internal crackdowns.
