‘Does my child need to have something happen for a posthumous award?’ Mayor’s response was swift

The mother of a participant in the April War addressed Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan during a Saturday meeting, saying, “My son is a participant of the April War, and I have requested a room in the dormitory. Why isn’t this question being put forward at the Yerevan City Council meeting?”

She noted that this issue has been delayed for a year, and that initially, she was asked to pay for the room allocation, which she refused to do and filed a complaint about.

The woman continued, “Please instruct that my child’s case be included on the council’s agenda. If they are asking for money from me, I have filed a complaint; should my child’s case not be addressed? The person who sought it has now applied for that room for themselves. I have recordings that show this is why they turned against me.”

She emphasized, “We are expecting a baby, and we have no place to put the cradle. What does my child being granted a room in the dormitory have to do with my complaint?” She also informed that her complaint was dismissed by the investigative body.

In response, Hayk Marutyan first reminded that he had met and listened to the woman, then added that the issue should be brought to the City Council meeting, which a council member can do: “The mayor is not all-powerful. A council member can also put the matter on the agenda.”

The mother of the April War participant thanked the mayor for listening to her and continued, “I appreciate that the mayor met with me, but I ask you to include my child’s case on the City Council agenda. The room I requested is in the dormitory; I do not want an apartment. The community leader sent a letter requesting that my child be given the room. What is the issue here? It has been a year since I applied; they should either reject it or stop saying 'wait,' so it can be cut off from the community. Is it difficult to provide my son, a participant of the April War, with a room? Does my child need to have something happen for a posthumous award?”

She also added that Deputy Mayor Hayk Sargsyan’s assistant had told her the mayor needs to include it in the agenda. Meanwhile, Hayk Marutyan insists this was stated incorrectly. The mayor suggested she attend the City Council meeting on Wednesday and present the issue to the council members once again.

At that moment, the Prime Minister’s assistant, Nairi Sargsyan, approached and said, “Let’s not discuss this today.”

It should be noted that 'The Yerevan City Council regulations state that “The draft agenda for a regular City Council meeting is prepared by the Mayor and presented to the secretary of the Mayor's office at least two weeks prior to the meeting with accompanying documentation.”