"They Are Trying to Silence and Scare Me": War Participant Removed from YSU, Appeals to Ombudsman

YSU student Manuel Manukyan expressed his concerns on Facebook:

"Dear compatriots, I am facing political persecution; today I was deliberately expelled from the university and denied my diploma. YSU is fully politicized and serves the interests of Nikol Pashinyan. I am studying in the Faculty of International Relations at YSU, and during my thesis defense today, I was deliberately not appointed, the only one among my entire course, with no substantial reason. Starting from the evaluator to the members of the commission, they had one issue: not to appoint me. If they did, perhaps they would dismiss many others. A climate of fear and violence prevails at YSU. The members of the commission and the head executed a political order. Through such actions, they are trying to silence me, to intimidate me so that I do not express my political stance against today’s Turkish-dependent authorities. But those who know me well understand that it is impossible to silence or stop me with such despicable tactics.

If my homeland is on one scale, and my diploma, job, or position on the other, my choice is my homeland because my principles are: God, Homeland, Family. The Turkish puppets leading Armenia into slavery will one day be held accountable. I appeal to Arman Tatoyan, again asking him to defend my rights. I also want to inform you that initially, they wanted to expel me from the university over rental issues, but I resolved that by making the payment, and only after the payment did the state grant a concession.

Let me remind you that the criminal cases initiated against me are also a result of political persecution, which are unfounded and even laughable. They initiated a criminal case over a Facebook post and for fighting against ‘non-credit theft.’ I have fought to prevent banks from robbing you so that your children do not suffer, but with fabricated charges, they are trying to intimidate and silence me. This incident today also came into play.

I continue to insist that Nikol Pashinyan is a Turkish lackey, undermining our country and state every day. I thank all those who stand by me during these difficult times and offer their support, writing, calling, and saying kind words. I pity all those who, fearing Nikol and his ostentatious team, avoid even looking me in the eye. Difficulties help to rid of cowards, traitors, liars, and fraudsters. I will continue to fight, regardless of pressures and the disgraceful actions carried out by the authorities. My struggle is for the truth, for the ordinary person, for the interests of the country, for the Homeland. God is my Protector and Helper."