From 21 to 30 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, 149 articles were declared, 56 of which were negative, 1 was positive and 92 were neutral.
RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan continues to have problems with with the subordinate staff.
YSU spokesperson Gevorg Emin-Teryan addressed the minister’s critical opinion about him and asked Arayik Harutyunyan to present facts in order to justify how Emin-Teryan may be considered as a former regime representative. He also added: “I would like to remind you that currently, by the direct order of the Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of YSU was elected a person who had been included in the list of the Republican Party of Armenia in 2017, and, moreover, he was an adviser to former Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. Furthermore, the Minister’s friend, YSU Vice-rector Artur Israyelyan, participated in several campaigns of the RPA.”
Literary critic, editor-in-chief of “Antares” Publishing House Arqmenik Nikoghosyan, addressing the issues of the educational sector, noted that we are in the process of reforms at the level of statements, but when we move to the practical field, we see that nothing has changed yet. According to the literary critic, it has been stated in the past that there will be no appointments based on “nepotism”, but according to him, a newly appointed pro-rector is very well known to everyone as Arayik Harutyunyan’s friend.
Addressing Arayik Harutyunyan as a Minister of Culture, Levon Sharafyan said: “It is good as he is a specialist of Arabian studies, let him deal with his profession, what does he have to do with culture? Arayik Harutyunyan may be a very good guy, I might meet him and make friends, but what do you have to do with culture, my friend, when did you last attended a concert or a performance so as you have your say?”
On September 25, the staff of the National Institute of Education held a protest in front of the building of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia. According to Varsenik Hovsepyan, a specialist at the Pedagogical Research Division of the National Institute of Education, they were assured that the institute would start working in September. According to her, Arayik Harutyunyan had enough time to engage the experts in the discussion process and understand who was the best choice, but it was not done.
Former Deputy Minister of Education and Science, MP from “My Step” faction, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, supported Arayik Harutyunyan when referring the appointment of the Vice-rector. The publication covering Hovhannisyan’s support, was assessed as a positive. He also added that he and Arayik Harutyunyan have been friends for 15 years.
