The Thin Line Between Public Service and Politics: Taron Chakhoyan’s Case
18.10.2024
By Tatev Baghdasaryan and Karena Avedissian
Recent concerns surrounding Taron Chakhoyan, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, have sparked debate over his compliance with the Armenian Code of Public Service. The issues primarily relate to his social media activity and alleged ties to media outlets affiliated to the ruling party.
The position of Deputy Chief of Staff is a high-ranking government role that demands strict political neutrality for public servants. Maintaining this neutrality is crucial for preserving public trust and ensuring that public servants act impartially, without aligning themselves with any political faction. Although the Deputy Chief of Staff is tasked with supporting the administration’s policies, adherence to political neutrality (Article 27 Law of the Republic of Armenia on Public Service), is important to prevent perceptions of favoritism or bias. When public officials engage in politically charged commentary or promote partisan content, it risks eroding public confidence in the government’s fairness.
While Armenia’s public service law does not explicitly regulate social media use, the broader principles of political neutrality still extend to online behavior. Even on personal platforms, public servants’ statements can be perceived as representing their office, blurring the lines between private and professional conduct. Taron Chakhoyan’s Facebook posts, which frequently target opposition figures while openly supporting the current administration, illustrate this dynamic. With a verified account followed by 44,000 people, Chakhoyan’s profile lists the Armenian Government as his workplace, and he posts almost daily, both during and after official work hours.
Here are some examples:
1. “Five people are singing six songs, seven people are demanding a change of government. The massive rally as of 18:35.” (Posted on October 6th, 2024 at 18:45 o’clock)
This sarcastic post mocks opposition protests, discrediting their efforts. By ridiculing the opposition, Chakhoyan casts doubt on his political neutrality.
2. “Displaying a map of Armenia without Syunik is unacceptable, even if it’s done for satire and mockery. […] Despite being given all opportunities, some still failed to transition from ‘Super Mama’ to becoming a politician.” (Posted on October 11th, 2024 at 12:49 o’clock)
In this post, Chakhoyan targets former Yerevan mayor Hayk Marutyan over a comedy show, invoking concerns about Armenia’s territorial integrity. The reference to “Super Mama,” a film in which Marutyan played the lead role, adds a personal element to the attack. This blending of personal and political commentary further calls into question his adherence to the standards of political neutrality required by public service.
3. “The lying priest cannot rid himself of the former leaders, because it is the former leaders who gave birth to, nurtured, and raised him.” (Posted on October 4th, 2024 at 13:23 o’clock)
Chakhoyan frequently targets Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, whom he consistently refers to as the “lying priest.” In this post, he accuses Galstanyan of being a “puppet” of former Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. This post mirrors the government’s broader narrative, painting opposition figures and their allies as remnants of the old regime. By engaging in such public attacks, Chakhoyan positions himself as an active participant in political discourse, further blurring the line between his role as a public servant and a ruling party advocate.
4. “The opposition’s behavior resembles rats fleeing a sinking ship; […] The responsibility for the failed anti-state movement lies with all of you—those engaged in politics, the clergy, the Dashnaks, the ATM robbers, the thieves who plundered Artsakh, Serzh, Rob, and their satellites…” (Posted on September 27th, 2024 at 10:33 o’clock)
In this post, Chakhoyan uses dehumanizing language by comparing opposition members to “rats” and assigning collective blame for what he describes as a “failed anti-state movement.” Such rhetoric not only discredits the opposition but also deepens political polarization, raising concerns about his compliance with the law’s requirement for neutrality. By engaging in inflammatory language, Chakhoyan further undermines the principle of impartiality expected from a senior public servant.
5. “The result of freezing the lying priest was this—he ended up in the hospital. P.S. Has the one hour promised on May 9 still not passed?” (Posted on August 21th, 2024 at 15:15 o’clock)
This post mocks Archbishop Galstanyan’s health condition and takes a sarcastic jab at the opposition movement’s previous failed promise to remove Prime Minister Pashinyan from office within an hour on May 9. Chakhoyan’s tone here is dismissive and belittling. This rhetoric is particularly problematic given his role in shaping public perceptions and contributing to divisive political discourse.
In his October 14 interview with Petros Ghazaryan of Public TV, Chakhoyan reiterated these claims, while also attacking politicians Hayk Marutyan and Artur Vanetsyan. He argued that both figures rose to prominence due to their association with Prime Minister Pashinyan, and now that they have joined the opposition, they have lost their relevance. When questioned about the government’s declining popularity and its policies on Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, Chakhoyan defended the administration, stating that it is focused on normalizing relations with Armenia’s neighbors. He denied any government responsibility for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh or the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in the region, instead accusing the opposition, including figures like Marutyan, of adopting Azerbaijani narratives when addressing these issues.
Chakhoyan’s breach of neutrality extends beyond his social media activity, with an investigation by Infocom allegedly linking him to politically biased websites like armenianews.net and medianews.site. These platforms frequently publish content favorable to the government while criticizing opposition figures. Domain checks revealed that both websites are operated by a single individual, suggesting a coordinated effort to spread pro-government propaganda.
Infocom’s investigation also revealed that FreeNews, another pro-government site, is managed by Mariam Margaryan, the wife of Alen Simonyan, Speaker of the National Assembly. These sites often operate in tandem, republishing each other’s content––a pattern indicative of a concerted propaganda campaign targeting government opponents.
Mariam Margaryan remains registered as the owner of FreeNews. Although Chakhoyan’s connections to armenianews.net and medianews.site appear to have been scrubbed, with management of the sites reportedly transferred to individuals in Moscow and Crowley Vale, Australia, the investigation underscores the existence of a coordinated network disseminating pro-government narratives.
The law is clear: public servants are required to maintain political neutrality to uphold the integrity of their office and preserve public trust. Chakhoyan’s social media activities and his alleged connections to politically biased media outlets, appear to contradict these principles. Even if these actions occur outside of his formal duties, they cast doubt about his ability to remain impartial as Deputy Chief of Staff.
Moreover, Chakhoyan’s active participation in political discourse may violate Article 33 of Armenia’s public service law, creating a conflict of interest. By endorsing media that support the government’s agenda and openly criticizing opposition figures, he is violating the boundary between his professional responsibilities and personal political views.
Democracy Watch is a joint initiative by CivilNet and the Regional Center for Democracy and Security, a Yerevan-based think tank.
This material has been funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.