Minister of health Arsen Torosyan is not participating in Thursday’s Cabinet meeting of the government of Armenia.

His formal vacation starts on August 31 and will last until September 18.

The Ministry of Health informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that the minister is currently participating in the budget discussions at the National Assembly.

For several days now, rumors have been circulating that a heated argument took place between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Arsen Torosyan, after which the PM sent the minister on vacation. It was also reported that Torosyan had written a letter of resignation, but later the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health refuted these reports, adding that the minister will continue his respective activities after his vacation.