Armenian Mayor Quits Over Bust-Up At Domingo Concert

ARMENIAN MAYOR QUITS OVER BUST-UP AT DOMINGO CONCERT

Agence France Presse
December 8, 2010 Wednesday 4:28 PM GMT
YEREVAN

The mayor of the Armenian capital Yerevan tendered his resignation
on Wednesday after allegations that he assaulted a top presidential
aide during a concert by opera star Placido Domingo.

Gagik Beglarian “presented a statement of resignation from his post,”
said a statement released by Yerevan City Hall after the bust-up
last Friday.

The resignation still needs to be approved by the city council but
that is seen as a formality.

Armenian media have reported that the mayor abducted and beat the
presidential protocol officer, Aram Kandaian, after a disagreement
between the two men at a concert by Domingo in Yerevan.

Beglarian has come in for heavy criticism from President Serzh
Sarkisian over the incident, with his behaviour being described as
“unacceptable”.

“The president of Armenia has repeatedly expressed his position about
such action,” said presidency spokesman Armen Arzumanian.

“Such behaviour is unacceptable and intolerable, and even more so in
the case of a state official.”

The president’s spokesman confirmed that a violent incident had taken
place, but said it had been exaggerated by the media.

“In particular, there was no kidnapping and brutal beating, but the
incident definitely took place,” he said.

From: A. Papazian