Dr. Arpine Soghoyan, a Candidate of Medical Sciences and obstetrician-gynecologist who confronted Nikol Pashinyan during a campaign event in Yerevan’s Arabkir district, says she has been dismissed from her position after 21 years at Yerevan Polyclinic No. 16.
Soghoyan drew widespread attention after accusing Pashinyan of “stealing” her homeland, referring to the loss of Artsakh. As she turned to leave, Pashinyan grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back toward him before launching into a tirade against his political opponents and Armenians from Artsakh. Her daughter now says she has been dismissed under the pretext of a “staff reduction.”
“Take off your masks, you scoundrels, you cowards, you who left our children alone in front of the enemy,” Pashinyan said. “Rob’s punks, Serzh’s punks, Gago’s punks, Kalugatsu’s punks… I’m going to make all of you kneel.”
In a statement published Monday, attorney Tatevik Soghoyan said her mother was informed that her position was being eliminated as part of a “staff reduction.”
She questioned that explanation, arguing that while the polyclinic’s women’s consultation department will continue to operate, the position of department head has been abolished. The decision leaves thousands of women in the district, including expectant mothers, without the oversight of the department’s longtime chief.
She also dismissed the official explanation that the decision was driven by budget constraints, arguing that it is difficult to reconcile with what she described as billions of drams spent by the municipality on celebrations and festivities.
Calling the dismissal “the clearest proof” of her mother’s conscientious work, Tatevik described it as another example of retaliation against free speech in what officials describe as a “bastion of democracy.” She added that despite the dismissal, her mother’s spirits remain high and that she already has promising employment prospects.
Dr. Arpine Soghoyan is the sister of Lt. Col. Dr. Hrant Papikyan, who was taken prisoner during the 2020 Artsakh war and has remained missing since, adding personal context to her criticism of Pashinyan over the loss of Artsakh.
