No positive articles were published on Hayk Marutyan

From 1 to 10 June, 2020, the “Media Advocate” initiative followed online media reports on the mayor of Yerevan, Hayk Marutyan’s personality and activities.

35 leading Armenian news agencies have been monitored.

In the specified period, 113 articles were declared, 39 of which were negative and 74 were neutral.

No positive articles were published on Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan.

Davit Khazhakyan, a member of the Yerevan Council of Elders, stated that during the days of the coronavirus crisis, Hayk Marutyan allocated 10 million drams to the head of one of Yerevan districts to buy a new service car.

NA Deputy Mane Tandilyan referred to the fact that Yerevan Mayor has been absent from the discussion of the budget: “The mayor is the only official who does not show up to the budget discussions for the second time in a row; even the Prime Minister, being infected, was able to take part in the discussion.”

Babken Tunyan, a member of the “My Step” fraction, also touched upon the same issue. According to Tunyan, they invited Hayk Marutyan, but then they were informed that deputy mayor Hayk Sargsyan would come instead, who, in fact, without waiting for his turn, left the sitting. The NA member, in particular, noted that the parliamentarians do not have much opportunity to talk and ask questions to the mayor of Yerevan.

As far as citizens’ critical remarks are concerned, they are mainly  related to transport, stray dogs and other unresolved urban issues, which were among Hayk Marutyan’s pre-election promises.