Newly Appointed Acting Mayor of Gyumri Dismisses Employees

According to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's decision, Albert Margaryan, who was appointed as the acting mayor of Gyumri two days ago, has dismissed several employees from the city hall on his very first day.

In an interview with NEWS.am, former advisor to the mayor, Lena Jilavyan, recounted that she was dismissed on the very first day of the acting mayor's appointment. "I did not see him on the first day of his appointment. I went home, and they called me to say that I was dismissed." When asked if she knows the reason for her dismissal, Jilavyan replied, "I am not aware of the reason for the decision. I only know that I had been in a discretionary position for a month and, naturally, the advisor has not remained of interest to the new acting mayor."

Lena Jilavyan noted that she had been working in the Gyumri city hall since 1974, stating, "I have been the head of the Financial Department since 1996 and, finally, an advisor on financial issues."

Ara Matevosyan, an employee of the education department of the Gyumri city hall and a leading specialist in the field, has also made a post on his Facebook page regarding this issue. He stated that city hall officials were being forced to resign.

Ara Matevosyan wrote on his Facebook page, "I arrived at work at the Gyumri city hall. Both access doors were closed, and the familiar two female employees were not there. Instead, there was a different girl I did not recognize, along with two young men. The girl asked for my name and surname, which surprised me as this had never happened in my 21 years here. I told her my name, and the girl had some list in her hand. I asked her what this was about. One of the young men replied, ‘This girl is supposed to work here from today, as stated by the acting mayor.’ The girl quickly found my name as if she was expecting me; it seemed they had been waiting. Our city hall staff are numbered 234, which means the list should have been several pages long, but the girl only had one piece of paper, likely a blacklist. At that moment, I noticed that the two familiar employees were slightly confused at the back. The door opened, I entered, and at that moment, the deputy mayor arrived behind me. The deputy mayor demanded the order from that girl. It was clear that such an order did not exist and could not exist, and under the deputy mayor's demand, that girl and the young men left the access point, creating a conflict. This is hooliganism; they have invaded the municipality, threatening the staff with dismissal. Moreover, each of us has a significant work biography and respect, but we are witnessing immorality and arrogance. They are attacking the Gyumri city hall!"