Armenian Grandmasters Address Open Letter to Prime Minister Pashinyan

Armenian grandmasters have addressed an open letter to Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan regarding the competition for the position of director of the R. Vahanyan School.

“Dear Mr. Pashinyan, the Yerevan City Hall has announced a competition for the position of Director of the 'Rafael Vahanyan Chess Youth Sports School.' Currently, the school is directed by Yerevan's honor citizen, international grandmaster Rafael Vahanyan, after whom the school is named. Rafael Vahanyan is regarded as a living legend of Armenian chess; he has been the champion of the 1984 and 1986 World Chess Olympiads, the 1985 and 1989 World Team Championships, and the 1980, 1983, and 1989 European Team Championships as part of the USSR national team. Rafael Vahanyan has made significant contributions to the development and promotion of chess in Armenia. As the director of the school bearing his name, he continues to provide invaluable service to Armenian chess. Rafael Vahanyan holds great authority in the chess world, and in 2008, the Rafael Vahanyan Chess Academy was established in Bucharest by the initiative of World Champion Boris Spassky and Romania's Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. Rafael Vahanyan has received several state awards: in 1985 for 'Work Valor,' in 2001 the 'Moses Khorenatsi' medal, and in 2011 the 1st class medal for 'Services to the Homeland.' He is the only Armenian chess player to be awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports in the USSR. He was also the first Armenian chess player to receive the title of International Grandmaster.

The organization of such a competition was a great surprise for the grandmasters. According to the opinion of the entire chess family and the people surrounding it, such a competition is viewed very negatively. Conversely, everything should be done to ensure that Rafael Vahanyan continues to work and pass on his knowledge to future generations. Our chess family is happy and grateful that Rafael Vahanyan is managing the school that bears his name, and this competition should not pertain to our Legend, as every word he speaks, every explanation he gives, and his presence is a significant contribution to the development of future generations.

Signatories include:

• Three-time World Olympiad Champion, Grandmaster Vladimir Hakobyan
• Two-time World Olympiad Champion, Grandmaster Artashes Minasyan
• Two-time World Olympiad Champion, Grandmaster Tigran L. Petrosyan
• Head Coach of the Armenian Men's National Team, Grandmaster Arshak Petrosyan
• World Team Champion, Grandmaster Robert Hovhannisyan
• Bronze medalist of the World Team Championship, Grandmaster Hrant Melkumyan
• Head Coach of the Women's Armenian National Team, Grandmaster Zaven Andriasyan
• Member of the National Team, Grandmaster Arman Pashikyan
• World and European Champion among Veterans, Grandmaster Karen Movsisyan
• Member of the National Team, Grandmaster Hayk Martirosyan
• Grandmaster Samvel Ter-Sahakyan
• World and European Champion under 18, Grandmaster Manuel Petrosyan
• Grandmaster Aram Hakobyan
• Grandmaster Karen Grigoryan
• Grandmaster Gevorg Harutyunyan
• Grandmaster Vahe Baghdasaryan
• Grandmaster Arman Mikayelyan
• Grandmaster Tigran Harutyunyan
• Grandmaster Hovik Hayrapetyan
• Grandmaster Levon Babujyan