Dismissed tax inspector had spine issues: Hovsep Khurshudyan

Political figure Hovsep Khurshudyan has released information regarding Hayk Martirosyan, a dismissed employee of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) at the urging of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“Hayk Martirosyan, who was stationed at the customs clearance point in Noragavit, was dismissed for having met the country’s Prime Minister in a disheveled manner. To be honest, my first impression from this incident was that this employee does not fit his position and could indeed be dismissed (though it is another matter who and what procedure initiated that). The incident regarding the flag only reinforced my already formed opinion.

However, today I learned something that, if true (and I do not believe my source has any reason to misinform me), fundamentally changes the situation and could serve as a basis for revisiting that dismissal decision, even if it was under 'personal request'.

I was informed that a small circle at the Institute of Agricultural Economics, where he was studying, was aware that Hayk Martirosyan had spine issues for at least these past years, resulting in one shoulder being lower than the other, and he had to attend classes with special rubber braces worn on his shoulder and spine, which somehow allowed him to maintain a somewhat functional posture.

I do not know if I am being right by publishing information regarding Hayk Martirosyan’s health, which he did not wish to disclose even at the risk of losing his job to justify himself. I apologize to Hayk in advance for this. In any case, my source was unable to get in touch with him, as he turned off his phone and is not responding to journalists, human rights defenders, or anyone else’s inquiries. However, this is something that, if not published, would mean a violation of justice and unfulfilled justice. Thus, it is important for Nikol Pashinyan to know this as a basis for reconsidering his decision.

By the way, the fact that Hayk is not raising this issue only speaks positively of his human qualities,” Hovsep Khurshudyan wrote.