‘Unfortunately, I am a Forensic Doctor and Cannot Treat You:’ Too Much Just for a Debate

Karen Avagyan, an MP from the Republican Party of Armenia, and Stepan Safaryan, a Heritage Party MP, discussed the recent move by Armenia’s Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan to cut off the placements for the state-sponsored graduate and post-graduate courses by 50% – a decision that has raised a huge waive of discontent among undergraduate Armenian students.

But the conversation about the problems in education went far beyond the limits of just an ordinary discussion and turned into a heated debate peppered by insulting remarks.

First Avagyan said that those who are against Minister’s decision are simply avoinding military service in the army rather than fighting for science as post-graduate courses are not the only way to be engaged in science.

Further Avagyan accused Stepanyan saying that it is Heritage Party that stands behind the campaign against Ashotyan’s decision and encourages the students’ move.

“This is not a decent working style for the party, private Stepanyan,” said Avagyan ironically.

“Not private, but Lieutenant Stepanyan,” Stepanyan fired back.

“The better for you,” Avagyan went on.

“You have brought the country you govern to such a condition that you are facing the problem to reman the army.”

Avagyan disagreed with the point and said: “Those people [meaning students] who raise that problem want to solve the problem related to the military service as there are other ways to be engaged in science.”

“Why don’t you and the Minister of Education go and do your military service yourselves,” asked Safaryan.

“I am a forensic doctor, Stepan, I am Lieutenant, and unlike you I can be conscripted any time,” answered Avagyan who, the same way as Safaryan, has not done his military service in the army.

“Why do not you eliminate you shortcomings,” insisted Safaryan.

Avaya’s response followed quickly: “I am just a doctor, Mr. Safaryan.”

“[A doctor of] the dead,” Safaryan said with an apparent irony.

“And unfortunately I cannot treat you, you will emerge there after death …,” responded Avagyan