Culture Ministry explains dismissal of Opera Theatre director Konstantin Orbelyan

Konstantin Orbelyan has been dismissed from the post of the director of the Opera State Academic Theatre, head of the legal department of the Ministry of Culture Anush Ghazaryan told Aysor.am. She said Orbelyan was requested to leave either the post of the theatre’s director or the post of art director as the law does not allow to hold the two posts at the same time.

“Konstantin Orbelyan was holding two posts at the same time – the post of the theatre’s director and art director, while the law about State Non-Trade Organization bans the director to hold any other post or be paid for other job,” the head of the department explained, adding that the director may in combination do just creative, scientific and pedagogical work.

“He is dismissed from the post of the director but it will be very good if he continues his activity as the art director. It is impossible to combine the two, it is serious violation of law, and we have requested him several times to make the choice. He did not agree, as a result the minister dismissed him,” Ghazaryan said.

Konstantin Orbelyan was appointed in the post of director of Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre in 2017 by that time minister of culture Armen Amiryan. Ghazaryan said this appointment violates two points of the law.

The ministry representative said it is not clear yet who will take the post but added that the announcement will be given soon.