Are Charges Against Sanasaryan Based on Your Testimony? Question to Torosyan

“I chose the Deputy Minister of Health based on professionalism and suggested him to the Prime Minister. As you know, he has been working in the system for a long time, and if we put aside individuals, we consider numerous criteria when selecting staff – their past experience, the level of professional knowledge, honesty, and reputation. However, it is not always possible to get it 100% right; we also make mistakes,” Arsen Torosyan responded to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s remarks about being blamed for a failed staffing policy due to the Deputy Minister of Health taking bribes.

Torosyan was addressing the question of whether charges against the head of the State Revenue Committee, David Sanasaryan, were based on his testimony.

“We only wanted to exclude any interference in the state procurement system. Now it is up to law enforcement agencies to determine whether there was abuse of office and interference or not. I do not intend to take on the role of a court, but I have always said that if I become aware of something that the law enforcement agencies should also know, they will be informed about it,” the minister stated.

He also noted that he has sent a letter to law enforcement agencies regarding the case. When asked whether there was any Facebook correspondence between him and Sanasaryan on this topic, Torosyan said that he has known Sanasaryan since 2008 and they have exchanged many messages. “We have had correspondence on various topics with Sanasaryan, including this one. I am glad that David Sanasaryan has provided those messages to the investigation,” Torosyan said.

He also mentioned that he has not been questioned in relation to the case.