It's Time to Call Things by Their Name: Arsen Torosyan on Hayk Marutyan

The government has often faced resistance regarding sectoral changes in the city of Yerevan, yet it has patiently worked with the mayor to avoid unnecessary shocks in the city. Former Minister of Health and current MP Arsen Torosyan has made a statement regarding the vote of no confidence for the Mayor of Yerevan, noting that it is time to call things by their name.

“It’s time to call things by their name. I would like to add that Hayk Marutyan had all the possibilities to ensure significant progress in all areas of city management through collaborative work with the government. The government has frequently encountered resistance when it comes to implementing sectoral changes in Yerevan, but it has worked patiently with the mayor to prevent unnecessary upheavals in the city. Unfortunately, we must acknowledge that it is no longer possible to continue this way.

As a former Minister of Health, I want to inform you that the municipal authorities have been reluctant to make changes in the medical institutions operating under the Yerevan City Hall (several hospitals, numerous polyclinics, emergency medical services), despite the comprehensive financial and other types of support from our side. To this day, many directors who have poorly managed these institutions for decades have not been replaced, and the performance of these institutions has not significantly improved. The same picture is evident in almost all sectors, including education, culture, and so forth. I am confident that with a new mayor, we will mark significant changes in all directions and rapidly address the gaps,” Torosyan wrote.