Constantine Orbelian sues Armenian PM, acting culture minister

World-famous conductor Constantine Orbelian has filed a lawsuit against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Acting Minister of Culture Nazeni Gharibyan, Panorama.am learned from the Judicial Information System.

A San Francisco-born conductor and pianist, Orbelian was named Artistic Director of the Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan in 2016, becoming its Director General as well a year later.

The acting minster dismissed Orbelian as chief executive of the Opera Theater on 28 March, arguing he is not allowed to combine the two top positions by law.

Orbelian now demands to nullify Pashinyan’s decision to temporality put the duties of the culture minister on Nazeni Gharibyan and the latter’s order to terminate his powers.

The case has been assigned to administrative court judge Liana Hakobyan.