Environmental and Mining Inspection Staff Address the Prime Minister

The staff of the Environmental and Mining Inspection Body have addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The letter states in part:

“It has already been five months since the management of Vigen Avetisyan, marked by 'unprofessional management (personnel's incorrect political policy) and unjust actions,' has disrupted the normal functioning of the inspection body and its employees. An unhealthy atmosphere has formed within the collective, leading to a loss of mutual trust and respect among employees, as well as a decrease in their dedication and commitment to work.”

“The documents entering the inspection body, including the implementation of assignments received from the Prime Minister's Office, responses to letters and motions from state bodies, and applications and letters received from citizens and legal entities, are circulated in the mulberry system. Once all interested subdivisions provide their approvals, it sends positive visas (as well as the consent of individuals indicated by Vigen Avetisyan) to Avetisyan for confirmation. However, Avetisyan returns the document to the executor for revision without any reasoning, and in some cases notes, 'review with me,' but does not create necessary conditions for the head of the executing subdivision or the employees to clarify the reasons for the revision request or the date for organizing the discussion.”

“Employees spend days trying to clarify through assistants the reasons for sending documents for revision, which results in exceeding the deadlines for executing assignments, for which Avetisyan immediately initiates official inquiries, unjustly demanding disciplinary penalties or threatening dismissal.”

No decisions have been made following the initiated official inquiries, thereby violating legal requirements.

“The style of work has reached such a degree of cynicism that there are cases where prepared response letters are sent for revision, and after a few days, the same letters, without any changes, are sent to him again for confirmation and signed by him. This indicates that Vigen Avetisyan deliberately creates tension and frustration for employees in order for them to become disappointed and resign from their jobs.”

“Avetisyan's disrespectful attitude towards employees is also manifested in the inability of the heads of territorial subdivisions to reach him by phone regarding questions needing clarification and resolution, forcing them to travel hundreds of kilometers to Yerevan, waiting for hours in his reception, yet not being received.”

“Avetisyan cannot effectively organize the work of the inspection body, having working contact with only a few employees, whom he hired through connections and relatives. He does not include the deputy heads of the inspection body or structural subdivisions in consultations with territorial bodies, only his selected ones participate.”

“Avetisyan has hired certain advisory staff who coordinate the work of certain structural subdivisions through acquaintances, yet he has not defined the scopes for their coordination. Currently, Avetisyan has one vacant position for an assistant and one for a secretary. However, he has hired a personal acquaintance as an assistant to the head of the inspection body, who sits in Avetisyan's reception and carries out the duties of a secretary.”

“From the very first day of his appointment, Avetisyan demanded several employees to write resignation letters without legal grounds and justifications. Those who previously recognized his authority and did not wish to continue working together have resigned as per their applications, while those who did not comply with Avetisyan's illegal demand have been threatened and continue to be threatened with dismissal.”

“In addition, Avetisyan is violating the compensation procedure established by his own decree No. 155-L dated June 7, 2019. Specifically, according to point 5 of the procedure, subdivision heads are to submit lists of employees eligible for compensation within a specified timeframe, which are modified by Avetisyan without any justification. Avetisyan exceeds his authority, showing personal and discriminatory approaches, which lead to changes in the amount of compensation (reduction or deprivation of compensation, and only then approving the compensation list). However, his 'chosen ones' (advisors, secretaries, drivers…) are compensated at 100 percent or more without any justification for months, in violation of the aforementioned procedure.”

“Since his appointment, Avetisyan has assembled service vehicles next to the administrative building of the inspection body under the pretext of reducing fuel and vehicle repair costs as per the government's program; however, this was a demonstrative step, as the vehicles are used by his selected ones with unlimited fuel access.”

“Moreover, Avetisyan has generously utilized his authority by establishing preferential conditions for his driver, providing two off-road vehicles that are used for his personal interests with unlimited fuel access.”

“Avetisyan's unlawful and unjust actions do not end here; he shows discriminatory approaches towards business entities regarding the implementation of supervisory activities. Not all reporting documents submitted for inspections are acted upon, and entities with whom he had previous ties are not inspected.”

“Furthermore, inspection orders have not been issued based on several directives from the Prime Minister and numerous resolutions from investigative bodies and other state agencies; instead, inspections have been conducted based on fabricated applications.”

“As a part of the government’s public administration system, the Environmental and Mining Inspection Body has become a subordinate of the Ministry of Environment due to Avetisyan’s erroneous and unprincipled policies.”

“Avetisyan lacks the necessary management skills and work capabilities to lead the inspection body and is neither capable nor willing to solve the issues facing the state in the inspection and regulatory field. This situation has caused great concern among the staff of the inspection body and may also disturb the public. We ask you to evaluate and determine the appropriateness of V. Avetisyan's leadership of the Environmental and Mining Inspection Body. We also inform you that we are ready to present additional justifications, materials, and other factual circumstances.”