Syunik Regional Governor's Diploma Also Fake: Yerevan.Today

In the theatrical production “Taxi-Taxi,” the hero famously says, “Who said I don’t have a diploma… I lost it.” This statement has become increasingly relevant in our times, especially for officials in the state system.

Yerevan.Today reports that it has previously written about the fake diploma of Aragatsotn’s regional governor, Razmik Petrosyan. However, it turns out that he is not the only official who has reached a high position through falsified credentials. Another case has arisen from the Syunik regional governor, Melikset Poghosyan.

The biography published on the Syunik Regional Administration’s website resembles what one would expect from a documentary film. It states that after completing school, he started working in the collective farm in Tegh village. His activities as a volunteer and a front-line fighter in the liberation struggle are then described. It mentions his participation in the liberation of several regions. The details provided raise the question of why Prime Minister Pashinyan appointed someone completely unrelated to the system, like Papikyan, as Minister of Defense, despite the presence of such a skilled military figure.

Nevertheless, this artistic depiction lacks the crucial information about where Melikset Poghosyan received his higher education. The law on public service in Armenia clearly states in Article 6 that it is not enough for the governor to have worked in a collective farm or participated in a war; there is a specific requirement for obtaining higher education.

Yerevan.Today has approached the Syunik Regional Administration, legally requesting information on which higher educational institution Melikset Poghosyan graduated from, in which years, and what professional qualification he holds. We also requested a copy of his diploma.

In response to the media's written inquiry, the Syunik regional administration has stated that they are not the addressees of such a request; rather, it is the government that appoints and dismisses the regional governor.