Karen Giloian: "I Am Not Obliged to Know All Who Have a Criminal Past" Regarding the Gratitude Letter to Kan evskoy

Aravot.am previously reported that the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Karen Giloian, handed over a letter of gratitude from the ministry to Artem Harutyunyan, known by the name "Artem Kanevsky", who has several criminal cases against him. The deputy minister promised to provide a detailed commentary on this matter.

“The Ministry received historical photos of their school, the number 146 named after Misak Metsarents, built in 1951 and never renovated, which had almost turned into ruins, from the school director, and requested that Artem Harutyunyan, the benefactor, be presented with a letter of gratitude. If there are claims that he has a criminal subculture, I honestly do not know about it and I am not obliged to know. If he were an athlete, I would recognize him by face. I really don’t know if he has a criminal subculture or not, whether he is a criminal or not; for me, the criterion is that the person has made a contribution, he is free, not wanted; if he ever had a past, I am not obliged to know that.

What matters most to me is that the school, which was falling apart, has now turned into a bright school. And the minister suggested going to present the letter of gratitude on his behalf, and I, of course, agreed, because I believe that school construction is one of the most pleasing tasks, and whoever builds or renovates a school is doing a great job by giving children the opportunity to learn and be educated. I go there, and I see him. They say, ‘Here he is, Artem Harutyunyan.’ I present the minister's letter of gratitude to him. And when I approach, the event is almost starting, and I do not manage to talk to anyone. The director simply says: ‘Now Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Karen Giloian will speak.’ I make my speech about education, saying that education is the foundation of everything; an educated citizen can build a good homeland, and I thank the benefactor for renovating such an educational institution where children can now study. I hand over the letter of gratitude, and since there was also a ceremony at the faculty of journalism of Yerevan State University, I leave and go. This is the whole story,” said Giloian.