I Have Never Been on Anyone's Blacklist: Arsen Torosyan

"I am connected only in the sense that I have been appointed minister. I don’t think, for example, that the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs must necessarily be a specialist in labor and social affairs; such a profession doesn’t even exist," said Arsen Torosyan, the newly appointed Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, during a press briefing after a government meeting, referring to questions raised by the public about his connection to the field.

“If you look at the other ministries, although I don’t want to remind you of the positions and specialties of my colleagues, you can look and come to your own conclusions about that question,” he added.

When asked how he was appointed if he was on Nikol Pashinyan’s blacklist, Torosyan replied, “I have never been on anyone’s blacklist. That is your vivid imagination now and perhaps in the past.”

Regarding personnel changes within the ministry and spokesperson Zara Manucharyan's departure, Torosyan stated that it was her decision, and he had even proposed she continue in her role. “There may be personnel changes ongoing; there is a reappointment process established by law, but at this moment, I cannot share any such information,” he said.