Pro-government media outlets also publish negative articles on Arsen Torosyan

From 1 to 10 October, 2019, the “Media Advocate” initiative followed online media reports on the RA Minister of Health, Arsen Torosyan’s personality and activities.

35 leading Armenian news agencies have been monitored.

In the specified period, 292 articles were declared, 159 of which were negative, 12 were positive and 121 were neutral.

RA Health Minister Arsen Torosyan fails to regain his positive rating in media field. Despite the fact that there are also positive articles, the negative ones prevail in number several times. It is noteworthy that the media outlets which are perceived by the public as pro-government, also publish negative articles on the RA Health Minister.

Former member of Yerevan council of Elders, Marina Khachatryan’s confrontation against Arsen Torosyan continues. Marina Khachatryan this time accused Arsen Torosyan of collaborating with Open Society Foundation linked to George Soros. According to Marina Khachatryan, Arsen Torosyan has some connections with the foundation too. In another interview Marina Khachatryan noted that competent specialists are being pursued by Minister Torosyan.

According to media reports, the conflict between Ararat Mirzoyan, Chairman of the NA Healthcare Committee Narek Zeynalyan and Arsen Torosyan is rather old. According to the publication, Ararat Mirzoyan wanted to appoint Narek Zeynalyan as a director of “Grigor Lusavorich Medical Centre”, but Arsen Torosyan was against the appointment. News agency writes: “Recently Mirzoyan-Zeynalyan duo had the opportunity to counterattack against their teammate with a bill on the “Center for Dermatology and Sexually Transimitted Infections”. The legislative body, particularly Zeynalyan, did not allow the center to be privatized, and the majority of the National Assembly approved it. Arsen Torosyan, in his turn, wants the center to be privatized as one of his close acquaintances, Babken Shahumyan, director of “Medline Clinic” MC has promising and long-term plans for this institution.”

According to media reports, long-time head of the Republican Narcological Center Petros Semerjyan has been blacklisted by Health Minister Arsen Torosyan for unknown reasons and the minister has decided to get rid of him at all costs. The news outlet wrote that Arsen Torosyan had decided to appoint his trusty Suren Nazinyan to the post. It is noted that a contest was announced with two candidates who failed to meet the requirements of the competition. However, Arsen Torosyan, appointed Nazinyan as a temporary acting head.

Referring to the criminal case against Davit Sanasaryan, former NA deputy Anahit Bakhshyan said that she believes in David Sanasaryan and that Torosyan can not shake her belief in David.

Gevorg Grigoryan, the Chairman of the “Armenian National Health Council” coalition of civil society organizations, addressing the healthcare sector noted: “In fact, today the Minister of Health is trying to establish total dictatorship in the field of health by appointing his trusty so that the hospitals are being controlled and obey him”. Gevorg Grigoryan also filed a civil lawsuit against Health Minister Arsen Torosyan. Grigoryan demands that the court oblige the defendant to publicly deny information which is, according to him, a slander, and to apologize publicly for the offense.

After the death of the infant at the Republican Hospital, Arsen Torosyan visited the infant’s parents and assured that he will follow the case personally and will be consistent in both the treatment and the case disclosure. The publications covering his visit were assessed as positive.

Arsen Torosyan is one of the pioneers in the fight against smoking. Perch Abgaryan, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Fresno, touched upon the fight against smoking in Armenia. “I definitely agree with Minister Arsen Torosyan. It is not so important to me whether two steps are undertaken, or one to give up smoking, the most important thing is to give it up after all.”