From 1 to 10 September, 2019, the “Media Advocate” initiative followed online media reports on the Minister Arayik Harutyunyan’s personality and activities. 35 leading Armenian news agencies have been monitored.
In the specified period, 221 articles were declared, 25 of which were negative, 3 were positive and 193 were neutral.
Various scandals continue to be linked to the RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan.
This time, the grants issue has been a subject of discussions. Manuk Nigoyan, president of the “Armenian Cultural Foundation” (ACF), held an open-air press conference near the ministry building, claiming that the ministry had provided grants by violating the rules. Then he added that Hasmik Khechikyan, the President of the “Cultural Society” NGO, who, by the way is also the head of the Literature Proclamation Division of the National Library of the RA Ministry of Culture, received a grant. According to Manuk Nigoyan, the ministry’s grant was awarded to a ministry official without a competition.
Relations between Vahagn Varagyan, Director of YSU Student Affairs Center, and Arayik Harutyunyan remain tense. Vahagn Varagyan touched upon the organization of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of YSU and notes that the minister had promised to celebrate the 100th anniversary of YSU 7 months ago, but according to Varagyan, a long time had passed but the event was not organized.
Former Director of the Theater of Choreography, Gayane Karapetyan is going to file a lawsuit against the Temporary Acting Director of the Theater, Lilit Palanjyan. According to Gayane Karapetyan, the term of office of the Temporary Acting Director is six months, which is long overdue, but the ministry actually keeps Palanjyan on purpose. He also added that he had sent a written complaint to the RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Arayik Harutyunyan, but received no response and will no longer wait, as she is convinced now that only the court may solve this issue.
Problems remain in Shirak State University (SSU) as well. Political scientist Gagik Hambaryan has started his article with a question: “Was Yerevan higher education institution more important than the one in region? According to the political scientist, dealing with ASUE problems, Arayik Harutyunyan, ignores the situation in SSU. “Since SSU is a regional university, its problems may be neglected, so as some close friends who stand behind Serobyan Yervand are not offended either.”
