Open Letter from Theatre Professionals to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

Theatre professionals have sent an open letter to the Prime Minister of Armenia, demanding the resignation of the Minister of Culture, Nazeni Gharebeyan.

The full text of the letter is presented below.

Your Excellency, Mr. Prime Minister.

The recent controversial events concerning the dismissal of Maestro Konstantin Orbelyan from his position as director of the opera theatre, as well as the so-called "black draft version" related to the optimization of theatres, have filled the glass of patience for the theatrical community. The Ministry of Culture of Armenia has not carried out any theater-friendly activities, and furthermore, through unreasonable and unfounded decisions, which are sometimes illegal and anti-cultural, has impeded the normal functioning of theaters.

The notorious law on state non-commercial organizations seriously hinders the operations of theaters; however, the Ministry of Culture has not taken any steps to promote the development of the sector.

The leaders of the theatrical community firmly believe that an individual who considers that "the opera is not a theatre", who does not regard the position of artistic director as a creative post, who invites the police to open theatre doors, and who dismisses the professionally employed director of the H. Abelyan State Drama Theatre in Vanadzor without hesitation, encountering significant communication problems with representatives of the theaters and lacking knowledge of the sector's issues, cannot lead the Ministry of Culture.

All theaters in Armenia, joining the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, demand the immediate resignation of Nazeni Gharebeyan and expect a corresponding cultural policy.

Armen Elbakyan - Artistic Director of the G. Sundukyan National Academic Theatre, People's Artist of the Republic of Armenia

Vardan Mkrtchyan - Director of the G. Sundukyan National Academic Theatre

Armen Khandikyan - Artistic Director of H. Ghaplanyan Dramatic Theatre, People's Artist of the Republic of Armenia

Vahe Shahverdyan - Artistic Director of the H. Abelyan Dramatic Theatre in Vanadzor, People's Artist of the Republic of Armenia

Karo Shahbazyan - Director of the H. Paronyan Theatre

Konstantin Orbelyan - Director and Artistic Director of the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

Jirayr Dadasyan - Artistic Director of the State Puppet Theatre, Honored Artist of Armenia

Ara Yernjakyan - Artistic Director of the Yerevan Chamber Theatre, People's Artist of the Republic of Armenia

Ruben Babayan - Artistic Director of the H. Tumanyan Puppet Theatre, Honored Artist of Armenia

Mher Mkrtchyan - Artistic Director of the