Students demand resignation of Yerevan State University Head

Arminfo, Armenia
Feb 14 2019
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.A couple of dozen students took to the protest march demanding the resignation of the head of Yerevan State University (YSU) Aram Simonyan. The  participants of the protest are moving on Alek Manukyan Street,  chanting: "Free, independent student", "YSU without Aram".

According to them, it is "thanks" to the efforts of the incumbent  head that the quality of education in the university is amiss. They  also recalled the latest revelations of the State Audit Office.  According to dissatisfied students, only Simonyan's resignation will  solve the problems existing in the university.  In this regard, as  the protesters noted, they gave a start to the "YSU 100 anniversary  without Aram" movement, and call on everyone concerned about the fate  of Alma Mater to join the initiative. "We urge the Board of Trustees  to meet on an emergency basis and raise the issue of the rector's  resignation," they said.

To recall, back in October 2018, the head of the State Control  Service, David Sanasaryan, told reporters about the revealed abuses  at Yerevan State University (YSU). Sanasaryan described the abuses  revealed in the main university of the country as "serious  violations" that "contain elements of a criminal offense". At the end  of December, David Sanasaryan wrote on his Facebook page that the  results of the checks carried out at Yerevan State University during  2 months were transferred to the prosecutor's office. "According to  our preliminary estimate, the fund was damaged in the amount of more  than 800 million drams. I assure you that if we continue the study,  it will be found out that the amount of damage is much higher.  Details will be presented during a press conference soon," noted  David Sanasaryan. Head of the university Aram Simonyan, in response  at the press conference, pointing out the Service's wrongdoing, said  that this was done intentionally, "to discredit the YSU, its  leadership, the university's activities, to mislead the public for  some purpose and try to fish in troubled waters. David Sanasaryan  responded to this statement on his Facebook page: "I watched the  press conference of the YSU Rector. Mr. Rector is either in a deep  delusion or is trying to deceive the public. Our answer will be very  painful. "To note, for more than 12 years, beginning in May 2006,  occupying the post of YSU Rector, Aram Simonyan is also a member of  the RPA, according to the official website of the party, for about 20  years, since 1998.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS