Zaruhi Batoyan Is in Self-Isolation

The coronavirus has not spared the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, even infecting key figures within the ministry, reports Hraparak.am.

In response to a media inquiry, the Minister's spokesperson stated that the minister has taken a test, which yielded a negative result. She is currently self-isolating and working from home.

However, why isolate if the test is negative? It has come to our attention that the minister's assistants have contracted the coronavirus, particularly Musegh Hovsepyan, who is considered the minister's right hand, although ministry staff assert that it's actually the other way around.

The 24-year-old assistant is effectively running the ministry; he manages the minister's schedule and gives directives to ministry employees.

It has also been reported that the driver of Deputy Minister Smbat Saiyan and the assistant to Chief of Staff Stepan Machyan have been infected.

When we asked the minister's spokesperson whether the mentioned individuals had indeed contracted the virus, she did not respond, citing medical confidentiality. We rephrased our question: Are there infected individuals within the minister's office? Once again, instead of answering 'yes' or 'no,' she requested a written inquiry, promising a response in five days, possibly even a month later, by which time the affected individuals may have already recovered.