Meeting with representatives of students who organized a protest action: Arayik Harutyunyan

The Minister of Education and Science, Arayik Harutyunyan, met today, May 22, with representatives of students from the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography (Yerevan Institute) who organized a protest action. This was announced by the Minister on his Facebook page.

“The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere, and the students presented their concerns and views on the ongoing developments.

We reached an agreement that on Friday I will also meet with the university rector, Lilit Arzumanyan, to hear her perspectives on the presented issues.

The students also suggested an expanded meeting with the student body of the university. After the meeting on Friday, I will also inform about the time and place of the meeting with the students,” the Minister wrote.

It should be noted that the students protested at the university, objecting to the fact that the election of the rector was conducted without competition. The students had blocked the theater's door from the inside, not allowing anyone to leave the building or enter it. They demanded an alternative, emphasizing that there should be at least one more candidate for the rector’s position, and the deserving candidate should win.

It is worth mentioning that after the council meeting of the Yerevan Institute, which lasted about 3 hours, the acting rector, the only candidate Lilit Arzumanyan, was elected rector with a vote of 15 in favor and 9 against. During the election, the students of the Theater Institute were gathered in the corridor chanting “alternative,” demanding the inclusion of another candidate for the rector's position.