Tehmine Vardanian Considers H. Marutyan's Ambassador Appointment Very Logical: ‘Zhoghovurd’

Tehmine Vardanian, a member of the Yerevan City Council faction ‘Lus’, spoke with ‘ArmLur.am’. A regular session of the Yerevan City Council is scheduled for February 9, with 17 agenda items, although they are not particularly interesting questions. Vardanian noted in our conversation that important issues have been set aside by the municipality, which is focusing on other unimportant matters.

- It turns out that a city council session is expected at the beginning of the newly starting week. A few things on the agenda are known to us, but I want to know what you consider to be a priority? There are accumulated issues that need to be presented at the session.

- First of all, we have long established that our priorities do not at all correspond to those of the city mayor and the staff regarding community priorities. Two projects are presented at the council meeting on Tuesday, which we see as insignificant. Both projects involve structural changes in the administrative district of Kentron and the municipality, where departments are being merged, which will be ineffective. There is a problem in both places regarding the dismissal of employees, as these employees cannot be legally dismissed from work. They have brought structural changes, resulting in the employees likely being left out.

The second issue is that these projects will add around 10 new positions, which is abnormal because the mayor accepted the staff with 1998 employees, and the already bloated staff, which we have been hearing about for 2.5 years that needs to be optimized, is becoming even more inflated. Soon it will reach about 2200, which is unacceptable. The commission has already given a negative conclusion. I find it difficult to say what will happen at the council meeting. There are many issues.

- What is the goal of the projects being brought to the council meeting?

- Essentially, it will be an ordinary meeting where various projects are on the agenda, but there is no significant project to talk about.

- And what is the purpose of all this? Why, amidst so many issues, are such steps being taken?

- Their goal is to create the appearance of activity, as there is a meeting, projects are presented, and people have brought projects. How the quality of the projects presented is, they will explain better themselves.

- There are rumors that Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan is concentrating on the administrative districts, wanting to form teams there, which is why he is increasing the number of workers in the staff. Do you also consider this to be intentional?

- We have seen the practice of placing relatives, acquaintances, friends, actors, and individuals from his previous activities in positions for the past 2.5 years. I am no longer surprised by any events occurring in the country or the city. It is sad, but this administration, both at the central and municipal levels, needs to leave immediately, as both the country and the city are being pushed into the abyss. After 2.5 years, the mayor has decided to make changes in the administrative districts. What has he accomplished all this time?

- There is also heated discussion surrounding Mayor Hayk Marutyan's appointment as ambassador. What information do you have? Have there been discussions about this in the municipality?

- This is the most ridiculous thing. I learned it from the press. It is very logical, as H. Marutyan has never connected his fate to Armenia, let alone to Yerevan," writes the newspaper. Read the full article in today’s newspaper issue.