Several Faculties of YSU Join Nationwide Disobedience Actions on December 22, 2020

Several faculties of Yerevan State University (YSU), along with a group of lecturers from Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), are joining the strike announced by the "Homeland Salvation Movement," which consists of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition forces. This was stated in a message released on the official YSU website: "Several faculties of YSU are joining the nationwide disobedience actions on December 22, 2020."

Among those joining from YSU are the Faculty of Geography and Geology, the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Oriental Studies, the Faculty of European Languages and Communication, the Faculty of Journalism, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Armenian Studies, the Faculty of International Relations, the Faculty of Economics and Management, the Faculty of History, the Faculty of Chemistry, the Institute of Armenian Studies, the Institute of Pharmacy, the Center for European Studies, and the Center for Pedagogical and Educational Development.

The head of Yerevan State Medical University, Shushan Danielyan, also reported that there are lecturers and staff who have informed that they will join the strike on December 22, 2020. "That is their constitutional right, and no one has the authority to take that right away from people," she stated, adding that the university is a non-political entity, and its administration has never used and will not use administrative leverage against its staff.

The rector of Yerevan State Conservatory, Sona Harutyunyan, also announced on her Facebook page: "63 esteemed lecturers of the Komitas State Conservatory have issued a statement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister N. Pashinyan on behalf of the conservatory. I declare with full responsibility that such an issue has not been discussed at the meetings of the conservatory's rectorate or scientific councils, therefore, it cannot be considered an official position of the university." At the same time, she assured that the current leadership of the university has never attempted to influence any lecturer's personal stance. Every lecturer at the university has the right to have their own political opinions, views, and perspectives.

"Regarding expressing a collective opinion, I consider this a violation of the fundamental principle of the university's non-political nature. Without notifying the university at least at the trade union level, without informing the deans and departments, and thus violating the elementary right of the other lecturers of the university to be aware of the initiative, a statement has been published on behalf of Yerevan State Conservatory," the rector emphasized.

The "Homeland Salvation Movement," composed of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition forces, announces a nationwide strike and class boycott on December 22. They will gather at Republic Square at 12:00 PM. Since November 11, various actions have been carried out demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The "Homeland Salvation Movement," consisting of more than 16 parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties, has nominated Vazgen Manukyan, a former Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and Chairman of the Public Council, as its unified candidate for Prime Minister.