By Aram Arkun
Mirror-Spectator Staff
The Mirror translated and published an article from Levon Barseghyan, member of the Gumri city council and president of the Asparez Journalists Club of Gumri, in the issue of August 25, on Olympic silver medalist Gor Minasyan’s family home, or rather, shack (domik). Barseghyan called for help to donate a true home to the family, but Minasyan issued a public statement that he did not need any assistance.
After this statement, Barseghyan apologized to the Minasyan family, declaring that his intention was only to help them. Vahan Tumasyan, president of the Shirak Center, stated that he went to the Minasyans’ home to offer them a newly built residence, but Minasyan’s mother declined. She added that her son wanted to build a two story building himself on the site of the shack. There also were some Armenians, shocked by photographs published of the Minasyan home, who began to raise funds online to help purchase a house for the Minasyans. This effort evidently halted after Minasyan’s public statements.
It is possible that the 22-year-old Minasyan indeed has the means to take care of the situation. Minasyan himself asserted that he was offered a residence but refused it. It is said that his family was a large one, and a house was previously offered to it, but Minasyan’s mother, siblings and Minasyan himself stayed behind in the old shack while other relatives moved to the new house.
It is also possible that the statement was due to embarrassed pride, or that pressure was placed on Minasyan to publicly deny any difficulties.
