From 21 to 31 May, 2020, 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, 1509 articles were declared, 516 of which were negative, 3 were positive and 990 were neutral.
Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan is in the center of criticism. The reason of criticism is mainly the unprecedented spread of the epidemic. Many accuse the minister of leaving the situation out of control and of conducting an unprofessional work.
After Arsen Torosyan’s famous question “Your actions when…”, Lawyer Yervand Varsoyan wrote: “Arsen Torosyan, imagine for a moment that you have only managed an Exo cabinet in your life, and all of a sudden, you are appointed a Minister of health. Furthermore, during the deliberate non-fulfillment of the judicial act (the Criminal Code welcomes you), you have managed to fail the current state of the epidemic in the country… What are your actions?”
Yervand Bozoyan notes that Armenia has become the leader in the spread of coronavirus among the 23 former post-communist countries, and explains why the country is undergoing such a situation.
According to media reports, Avinyan will resign by mid-July. Arsen Torosyan’s resignation is also on the agenda.
“The situation is horrible, since our government started to use preventive measure too late. I have repeatedly told that they missed the boat and the government was simply running after it. What they are doing now, they should do, whether they want it or not, they have to do it. There is no other way,” said Garik Aghabekyan, a doctor of medicine, professor and former chief pathologist of the Republic of Armenia, referring to the health condition caused by the coronavirus. Garik Aghabekyan also considered Arsen Torosyan’s statement puzzling, in which the minister questioned the situation with the coronavirus in Georgia.
Arsen Torosyan was also criticized after his thoughts on epidemic state in Georgia. Zviad Kvatchantiradze, a member of the Georgian parliament, posted a Facebook post addressed to RA Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan, writing in Armenian: “Dear Arsen, aren’t you ashamed?”
Tengiz Jertzvadze, Professor, Director General of Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center of Georgia, referring to the topic, noted: “As you know, on May 22 of this year, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Arsen Torosyan made a statement regarding Georgia, which is, to put it mildly, incorrect and far from reality. After that, the RA Ministry of Health clarified that Mr. Minister did not say such a thing, and his statements, unfortunately, were misinterpreted by the media. I declare with responsibility that this is another attempt of spreading misinformation, as I have personally heard Mr. Torosyan’s statement, in which he declares without any grounds that their “anti-epidemic system is stronger.” He also expressed doubts about the quality of the tests carried out in Georgia, the testing methodology, as well as the statistics provided here.”
All this has been criticized In Armenia as well, both on Social Networks and in the media.
