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Former Director General of the Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan, Constantine Orbelian believes his dismissal is not politically motivated, he told a news conference on Thursday, stating it is simply a matter of misinformation.

Acting Minister of Culture Nazeni Gharibyan dismissed Orbelian, who is also the opera’s artistic director, as chief executive on 28 March, arguing that he is not legally allowed to combine the two positions. She also stressed that the San Francisco-born conductor and pianist is not fluent in Armenian.

Rejecting the decision as illegal, Orbelian said he would challenge it in court. 

“I see no political motivations here, Nazeni Gharibyan has been simply misinformed. I am not engaged in politics; I am not interested in politics. The important thing for me is the prosperity of the Opera Theater and Armenia’s development,” he said.

Orbelian stressed it was the Armenian government’s decision to appoint him as director of the Opera House. “Sue the government and let the court decide whether it [his appointment] is illegal or not,” he said. “My contract with the Ministry of Culture was legal, I didn’t ask anyone to appoint me to this post, especially by violating the law. It was not the purpose of my life. There is a misunderstanding here. Obviously, she does not have good advisers,” Orbelian said.

He argued if his appointment were illegal, he would have been fired nine months ago. “They expected me to leave the post on my own, but I won’t do that. How should I explain it to the staff? I said, “Dismiss me or leave me alone!” She decided to dismiss,” he said.

He also expressed confidence the issue will get a positive solution.