Consul Dismissed Over Photo with Kocharyan

Armen Manukyan wrote on his Facebook page: “A story about a photo that became the reason for dismissal: After the April revolution, it seems to have become commonplace in 'new' Armenia that dividing lines are drawn within society, separating people into insiders and outsiders. What is most concerning is that the government uses administrative leverages and, driven by its complexes and biases, punishes those deemed outsiders, whose only crime is that their political views do not align with the ruling party and its leader's political line.

In a country that is supposedly a bastion of 'love and tolerance' and, according to some, 'democracy', it has become ordinary for people to be deprived of their jobs solely because their political views are not acceptable to the current authorities and the Prime Minister. The absurdity of the situation has reached a point where one can be dismissed for a single photo shared online.

Months ago, Ara Baghdasaryan, the Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Andorra, who has always duly appreciated Robert Kocharyan's contribution to the establishment of Armenian statehood, expressed a desire to meet with the country's second president. He approached me, and I invited him to a meeting with Robert Kocharyan and his supporters, during which a remarkable photo was taken, showing Ara Baghdasaryan and Robert Kocharyan engaged in a friendly interaction. It was a beautiful picture that evoked only positive emotions; however, it became fateful for Ara Baghdasaryan, who had worked hard to develop Armenian-Andorran relations.

After the photo appeared online, he received a call from the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informing him that he was dismissed from his position due to his political stance. The Armenian authorities, in fact, seem to have forgotten what they were elected for. And if they have forgotten, then it must be reminded that they were appointed to their positions by the people not to persecute individuals based on their political views, but to solve the socio-economic problems existing in the country.

I hope we do not witness a day when people are dismissed or persecuted for not wearing 'Dukhov' hats.”