Tumanyan Museum Director Left the Institution Unmanaged for More Than Twenty Days: Andreasyan

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan, has addressed the uproar surrounding the dismissal of the director of the Tumanyan House-Museum. She stated on her Facebook page that since people whose opinions and professional experience she values have approached her for information, she finds it necessary to discuss the topic, even though the ministry has already clarified the existing situation.

"The Tumanyan House-Museum is a state institution currently undergoing capital renovation. In this situation, additional organizational expenses have arisen, and many regulatory issues need to be addressed. The director was proposed to revise the budget presented at the beginning of the year, discussing, for instance, the appropriateness of business trips from both a financial and an operational standpoint during the long-term absence for renovation. It is important to note that not only did the director fail to comply with this, but he also significantly delayed the start of the renovation for several months due to inadequate organization during this time, which resulted in a postponement of the planned pace of renovation works for the museum this year.

Subsequently, the director applied for a business trip lasting more than twenty days, to which he received an official written response stating that the trip was not advisable for the reasons mentioned. Unfortunately, I see issues related to basic legal awareness and knowledge of the legislative field. The former director questioned why he was not issued a command not to leave, which for someone somewhat familiar with the legislation is an absurd question. Let me clarify: without the minister's order for a business trip, the director of a state non-commercial organization cannot go on a trip. The same would hold true, for example, if a minister were to go on a trip without the appropriate decision by the Prime Minister. The order for a business trip also regulates financial issues related to it and the performance of official duties during the director's absence.

The director, who is obliged to know these basic procedures, especially having served in the position for more than one year, nonetheless voluntarily left for more than twenty days, leaving the institution without management. In other words, he has shown an unacceptable absence from work for more than twenty days without considering that someone would need to fulfill obligations during his absence, such as signing necessary documents and managing the institution's operations. Furthermore, during his voluntary absence, according to ministry information, the director also spent public financial resources, which he definitely did not have the right to do. During this period, the ministry, upon learning about the director's actual absence, regulated the performance of obligations within the scope of its powers, " emphasized the minister and continued: "Upon the director's return, he was required to provide a written explanation regarding his trip without an order, leaving the institution effectively unmanaged and failing to perform his duties. After receiving the written explanation, a decision was made to dismiss the director since managing a state institution first and foremost requires knowledge of official duties and responsibility, which, unfortunately, were entirely disregarded in this case.

At the same time, the ministry has not made any comments regarding the professional capabilities and knowledge of the person who occupied the director's position, as the issue pertains to the obligation of management, its non-fulfillment, and gross violations of the labor code. All other comments, including absurd discussions about who borrowed and referenced various works, are irrelevant. This is a state, and we must respect our state and its rules, approaching the responsibilities placed upon us with utmost seriousness, especially when representing a state institution, let alone when leading it."