Papikyan appointed Armenian defense minister - presidential decree

YEREVAN. Nov 15 (Interfax) - Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has signed decrees relieving Arshak Karapetyan of his duties as defense minister and appointing Suren Papikyan to the post.

Papikyan has been relieved of his duties as deputy prime minister, the Armenian presidential press service said.

Said presidential decrees were signed at Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's proposal.

Papikyan, 35, was appointed deputy prime minister on August 2, following the early parliamentary elections in Armenia on June 20 and the formation of a new government. In the previous government, Papikyan served as minister of territorial administration and infrastructure.

Papikyan holds a degree in history. Before the change of government in 2018, he worked as a history teacher at a school in Yerevan. He is currently chairman of the Civil Contract party led by Pashinyan.

Karapetyan was appointed defense minister on August 2, replacing Vagharshak Harutyunyan.