Civilnet
Zarzand Nikoghosyan.
Notorious governor of Syunik marz, Surik Khachatryan is once again in the news. His former bodyguard, who also at times would act as his assistant, Zarzand Nikoghosyan is now the vice principal of School No. 6 in Kapan, the regional center of Syunik.
In a September 1 report produced by Khustup TV, Zarzand Nikoghosyan is seen giving a speech before the student body as vice principal. (You can watch his speech in the video below starting at 9:40 minutes).
Marine Davtyan, the principal of the school told Azatutyun.am that she personally appointed Khachatryan’s former bodyguard as vice principal of the school. Part of his responsibilities will include specializing in streamlined education. The principal went on to say that she will be personally responsible for Zarzand Nikoghosyan’s role and responsibilities in this position.
Davtyan explained that prior to Nikoghosyan's appointment, he was the school's physical education teacher and she chose him for the job taking into account "his reputation and acceptance among all the students.”
***
Zarzand Nikoghosyan is well known among the public for a number of illegal activities and offenses. His name became public knowledge in 2013, after gunfire erupted near Surik Khachatryan’s mansion on June 1st. The former mayoral candidate of the city of Goris, Avetik Budaghyan was killed during that exchange of gunfire. Budaghyan’s brother, army commander Colonel Artak Budaghyan and Nikolay Abrahamyan were injured in the melee.
Surik Khachatryan's son, Tigran Khachatryan, and Zarzand Nikoghosyan were arrested on suspicion of murder and later charged with murder, acquisition and possession of weapons and ammunition. However, three months later, both Tigran Khachatryan and Zarzand Nikoghosyan were released.
In July of 2015, Zarzand Nikoghosyan vandalized the property belonging to the son of Garen Atajanyan, the man accused in an assassination attempt against Surik Khachatryan. In that attack, Nikoghosyan allegedly threw stones causing substantial damage to the building. Evidence of Nikoghosyan’s involvement in the vandalization of the property were dismissed and Khachatryan was released.
* Following publication of this news piece, Armenia's Minister of Education Armen Ashotyan wrote a status on his Facebook page stating that after discussions with officials in the marz of Syunik, the decision to appoint Zarzand Nikoghosyan as vice principal of School No. 6 in Kapan was reversed.
Stories
