How did Armenia's PMs resign? (video)
Who will vote to reject the resignation of Prime Minister Vazgen Manukyan? This very issue was put to a vote during the sitting of Armenia's Supreme Council on September 21, 1991. One hundred and thirty-five people voted for Manukyan’s resignation. Hrant Bagratyan became acting PM of Armenia. Former Community Gagik Harutyunyan became Armenia’s Prime Minister on November 1, 1991. Only ten months after his appointment he quitted the post without resignation. His successor became Khosrov Harutyunyan, another Communist who reached an agreement with Russia to import wheat and fuel to Armenia. Harutyunyan worked as PM for six months and left offices without resignation. Hrant Bagratyan was finally appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. During his tenure in office, Armenia had its own currency, reopened the nuclear power station and imported gas. Bagratyan handed in his resignation letter amid tensions in the political arena and loss of confidence in the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh). The next premier was invited from Great Britain and remained in office for three months. He resigned from office when he was not in Armenia. He was succeeded by Robert Kocharyan, who became President of Karabakh in 1998. Kocharyan was succeeded by Armen Darbinyan as Armenia’s PM. He differed from his predecessors: he sang and even wrote poems. Darbinyan resigned after the May 1999 parliamentary elections. His successor, Vazgen Sargsyan, was a sociable persons, but had a frightening image. On October 27, 1999, Sargsyan was killed in parliament shooting by gunmen who swept into Armenia's parliament killing at least five people. He was succeeded by his brother Aram Sargsyan, who remained in office six months. Andranik Margaryan was appointed Prime Minister of Armenia in May 2000, only a few months after major political turmoil. He died in March 2007 and was succeeded by Serzh Sargsyan who became the country’s President a year later. Tigran Sargsyan succeeded Serzh Sargsyan as Prime Minister and served a six-year term until he resigned without explanation following a sharp economic downturn. Hovik Abrahamyan became the country’s next PM. Social polarization and economic downturn continued during his term of office. Armenia’s newly appointed Prime Minister is Karen Karapetyan who lived in Russia for five years before returning to Armenia. In 2011, he resigned as Mayor of Yerevan and left for Russia without explaining the reasons for his resignation.
