Armenia’s government appoints Lilit Stepanyan Kotayk governor

Armenia’s government appointed Lilit Stepanyan governor of Kotayk at its October 29, 2026 meeting, Armenpress said. She succeeds Aharon Sahakyan, whom the government relieved of the governorship on July 30 before he took a parliamentary seat.

The appointment proposal was listed among agenda items not scheduled for an oral report, Civic.am, a news site close to the governing Civil Contract party, said. The party’s peace agenda includes a peace treaty with Azerbaijan and normalisation of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

From parliament to Kotayk’s administration

In its October 21 account, ABC Media said Civil Contract’s board nominated Stepanyan for governor on October 20. She submitted her parliamentary resignation on October 21.

In an October 27 statement carried by InfoPort, Stepanyan said her parliamentary mandate ended on October 27.

Stepanyan served as acting head of Hrazdan municipality from July to November 2018. In November 2018, she became acting head of the Kotayk administration’s education, culture and sports department. She entered parliament after the 2018 election and was reelected on Civil Contract’s list in 2021. Before leaving parliament, she belonged to Civil Contract’s parliamentary faction.

Oversight of regional programmes

At the October 29 Cabinet meeting, Stepanyan said she would monitor all programmes implemented in Kotayk, checking their scope, substance and deadlines. She also said she would continue working with colleagues in parliament and the government.