VIDEO. 'If they want to expel us this much and will be happy from it, then ...' Artavazd Sahakyan shares details about the situation

Well-known plastic surgeon and chief micro-surgeon of Armenia, Artavazd Sahakyan, has not been dismissed from his job but has been asked to vacate the area where he works. He stated this during a Facebook live session, arguing that the demand is baseless.

“First, let me inform you that I have not been dismissed from my position, nor has there been such a request directed towards me. The request has come from the rector since 2017 when he was appointed as rector, asking me to leave this area and move to another place, which I have opposed. Before his appointment as rector, my doctor colleagues and I, through personal connections, completely renovated this area, two floors. All the expenses were covered by me and my doctors, and the medical university has not helped us in any regard, except for the support from Gohar Kalyan. During this time, I have periodically received this request, and I believe it is absolutely groundless. I never want to exploit or state how many soldiers I have helped, how many lives I have saved, and what I have done; you all know my past, and I would ask the opposition not to use innocent youth against us to threaten us or warn us in some way. I have always tried to reach a consensus and ensure the safety and productivity of the people I lead, even though I have been continuously confronted with this demand,” said the surgeon.

According to him, following the war on January 8, a representative visited him, requesting that he vacate the department. “I warned that there are about 1,000-2,000 patients who need quality assistance and are being treated at our center, and I cannot vacate, and after that, it was decided that repairs should be made here, after which a new micro-surgery department would be established. Imagine, I am the head of a university department, and I absolutely do not intend to move to any other private or public institution. Instead of protecting my interests, my rector is pressuring me to leave here. We did tremendous work during the years of war, and it is our duty, and even today, there could be a fire in Syunik or elsewhere or in Tavush, and at this moment, they are forcing me to leave this building,” he explained. He stated that a government decision was made without considering the opinion of this department. “I am convinced that many people in the rectorate agree with me; they are just silent out of caution because another area of the university is being alienated. If you look at the university territory historically, what was left by the Soviet regime, it has been almost completely alienated; I do not want to stir up passions, now even this area,” he added.

Artavazd Sahakyan expressed that he is tired of this squabble and realizing that he is dealing with a person who simply wants their department not to exist. “I told the pro-rector that I am tired; I do not want to see anyone, just give us a space, even in Mikayelyan. We have 66 employees, and we have a department whose furnishing and everything has been done by us; in Mikayelyan, they offered me two rooms; we will not have a separate department, and I cannot accommodate the staff; there is no space for ordinaries at all. I am not inclined to demand the huge expenses that I and my friends have incurred; I have dedicated this to our alma mater so that our patients and injured individuals have a comfortable environment. Now I cannot find any place where the medical process and the educational process will not be disrupted. Who has given them the right to play with the fate of one of the most powerful centers?” he stated.

Artavazd Sahakyan noted that this is not a political issue; he has always respected the authorities, and while he may not agree with many things, he has always quietly done his job. “I see no political problem here; this is purely a labor issue, and if they want to expel us this much and will be happy from it, then they should ensure the same conditions for my employees and clinical ordinaries. Let them not try to speak to me in the language of blackmail; I am 68 years old, and during all this time, I have not demolished anyone's house. We must solve our problems within the framework of law and justice; stay healthy,” he concluded.