Armen Badalyan, a specialist in political and electoral technologies, told Hetq that MP Ruben Hayrapetyan’s resignation statement was a public relations stunt.

Badalyan argued that Hayrapetyan should have condemned the Harsnakar Restaurant beating the very day it occurred and, as a member of parliament, he should have met with his electorate and explained what had happened.

The specialist said that Hayrapetyan should have also told voters that, for evident reasons, he had to leave parliament as well.

Badalyan says that it was only after Hayrapetyan was called to the Presidential Palace that he resigned, underscoring the fact that the president’s words have more impact than those who voted for him.

Badalyan believes that the visit of European Council President Herman Van Rompuy also played a part in Hayrapetyan’s resignation, but that it was pure politics and not a result of moral guilt.

The specialist said that the entire incident would blow over and not lead to any widespread political upheavals or repositioning of forces.

This too will pass like some many similar incidents before,” he argued.

Badalyan also blames the army for letting the bodyguards of various oligarchs get so powerful.

“Don’t forget, that in the March 1, 2008 clashes at Proshyan and Leo Streets, the bodyguards and the army were on the same side of the barricades. It’s due to the army that the bodyguard units of so many oligarchs have gotten so strong today.”