Barrier Installed at Tavush Regional Administration, Blocking Citizens' Access: Reporter

Journalist Voskane Sargsyan recorded: “The godfather of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the governor of Tavush, has installed a barrier on the first floor of the Tavush regional administration building, which blocks citizens' access to the offices of the administration. An employee of the regional administration stated that this barrier was installed three weeks ago. During citizens' visits to the regional administration, the staff member asks whom the visitor is coming to see, contacts that employee of the administration, and it is up to that employee whether the citizen gets a reception appointment or not.

The Tavush regional administration has been operational since February 19, 1996, and in the more than 25 years since its establishment, such a barrier has never existed. The governor of Tavush, Hayk Qalumyan, was appointed to this position by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on April 8, 2021. When he became Prime Minister, Pashinyan opened the doors of the National Assembly to citizens, but now he has strengthened the protection of parliament and government buildings. The Tavush governor, being the wedding godfather of Pashinyan, has also introduced a novelty at the regional administration.

By the way, at the entrance of the administration building, there is a notice stating that entry is allowed only with masks. However, on November 8, while I was in the Tavush regional administration building, I saw that many staff members were without masks or wearing masks lowered from their faces.”