Armenian economy minister rebukes question about Pashinyan's separation from wife

Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan on Friday cut short a press briefing after being asked about Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s separation from his wife, Anna Hakobyan, calling the question inappropriate.

“It's s shame. I did not expect such a question,” Papoyan told reporters when pressed on the matter. He added that as economy minister and deputy chair of the ruling Civil Contract party, he could not comment on personal issues. “If you want to discuss someone’s private life, I would rather leave,” he said, before walking away.

Hakobyan earlier announced on Facebook that her civil marriage to Pashinyan had ended. She said she was leaving the government residence and moving into a rented apartment.