Rector Appointed Head of Urban Development Committee Amidst Hanger Incident

The newspaper "Zhoghovurd" reports: "Yesterday, following a government decision, Yeghiazaryan Vardanyan was appointed as the head of the Republic of Armenia's Urban Development Committee. ArmLur had previously noted that Yeghiazaryan Vardanyan was the rector of the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia and left that position at the suggestion of Nikol Pashinyan.

It is worth recalling that the chair of the Urban Development Committee has been vacant since January 4. On January 3, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited a newly built modular school in the village of Haghvi in the Lori region, where he pulled a coat hanger from the cloakroom, expressed his dissatisfaction, and the committee's president, Armen Ghulyan, bent down to retrieve it before being dismissed from his position.

The appointment of Yeghiazaryan Vardanyan was not random. Before his rectorship, he was actively involved in urban development. In particular, Vardanyan previously owned a construction company and participated in lucrative tenders. He is known to have close ties with Arayik Harutyunyan, head of the Prime Minister's staff.

Additionally, former rector Yeghiazaryan Vardanyan is also involved in the realization of the Academic Town project. Back in February, a meeting was held in the government where Vardanyan, as rector, participated alongside Stefan Schütz, the executive director of International GmbH Architects and Engineers, the company designing the main plan of the Academic Town. During this meeting, Vardanyan stated, "We can now precisely determine how much water, irrigation, gas, and electricity are needed. We can start working in this direction already."

In conclusion, it can be said that Nikol Pashinyan made this choice out of desperation, moving the university rector to a government agency under his jurisdiction three months later. It remains to be seen whether Vardanyan will meet Pashinyan's expectations."