“The rector does not extend contracts for professors with opposing views,” says Tovmasyan

The chairwoman of the RA National Assembly's Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, Taguhi Tovmasyan, posted a statement.

“Khachatur Ghazeyan, appointed as the rector of the National Academy of Public Administration, does not extended contracts for professors with political opposition views. This is a concerning phenomenon that is spreading in universities.

I have received information that former Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, former Republican MP Artak Zakaryan, the Secretary of the NA 'Honorary Title' faction Hayk Mamijanyan, parliamentary member Arthur Khachatryan from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and Margarita Azaryan, mother of Artur Vanetsyan, the president of the 'Homeland' party, have been dismissed from the National Academy of Public Administration due to their political views. Opposition members Hayk Mamijanyan and Arthur Khachatryan mentioned in a conversation with an expert from the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs that they believe the reason for not extending their employment contracts is exclusively political.

I must emphasize that the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms states that everyone has the right to freely express their opinion, which includes the freedom to hold their own opinions and to receive and disseminate information and ideas without interference from public authorities, and the exercise of these rights may be subject to restrictions prescribed by law. Moreover, the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms articulated in the Convention is ensured without discrimination, including on account of political beliefs. Therefore, dismissing a lecturer solely for having opposition views is a profoundly concerning approach from the perspective of the Convention's provisions.

Additionally, there are concerns that the dismissals have often been personalized; 'undesirable' lecturers have been dismissed as well. It turns out that actions are taking place under the government of Nikol Pashinyan, which emphasizes the importance of depoliticizing universities and the educational system, actions that were previously condemned by Pashinyan himself. Thus, calls to truly grant universities the title of autonomy become meaningless.

Upon my instruction, an expert from the Committee has contacted the rector of the Academy, Khachatur Ghazeyan, for clarification. In response, the rector denied the information, stating that the non-renewal of any employee's contract is not related to political beliefs. If the issue were the opposition political views of the dismissed employees, then their colleagues such as Khosrov Harutyunyan, Hranush Hakobyan, and Gevorg Danielyan would not continue to teach.

Of course, within my jurisdiction, I will pursue the leads of this alarm, sending letters to both the relevant authorities of Armenia and my international partners, drawing their attention to the unacceptable reality of not extending employment contracts for opposition figures.

The depoliticization of universities is not just a campaign used for coming to power but a necessity that must be maintained.”