Andreasyan on the Arrest of the Rector and Staff of HPMU

Considering that there is a legal process, I believe we all need to wait for the court's verdict to be confident about the qualifications. Of course, I will await these verdicts, but what has been disseminated in the statement is mildly shocking and unacceptable for me, and I think such situations should be excluded from any university. This was stated by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan, during a conversation with journalists.

She noted that it is incomprehensible for her that a university educating teachers can have conduct and behavior that directly contradicts the values put forward by the ministry. The Minister is the president of the Board of Trustees of HPMU.

When asked how it happened that such actions took place in the structure she leads and whether the rumors are true that she is close to Rector Srbuhi Gevorgyan and it is with her direct support that Gevorgyan was appointed as rector, Andreasyan responded: 'I will not respond to observations regarding intimacy and friendship because I have repeatedly stated that I have only practical relations in the operational field. I became acquainted and interacted with Ms. Gevorgyan in connection with her appointment to that position, and my relations were formed as practical and have been practical. Ms. Gevorgyan was elected as rector in 2022. Yes, I was the president of the Board of Trustees at that time, and she was elected with the majority of the council’s votes. This is a fact.'

Zhanna Andreasyan stated that additional monitoring mechanisms should be implemented if there are such risks related to the executive leadership, indicating that the university will have a much more rigorous and strict monitoring system.

When asked whether Srbuhi Gevorgyan will be removed from the position of rector, the Minister of Education said that she does not want to violate anyone's presumption of innocence, but the disseminated statement is highly concerning. 'After the judicial processes, we will understand the degree of participation and involvement of each person, and after that, we can have another conversation if necessary. At this stage, I do not see any other option, because the accusations voiced are more than serious and must be responded to accordingly,' added Zhanna Andreasyan.