Syunik Knows the Truth: Regional Leader Responds to Narek Karapetyan's Statement

The head of the Syunik region, Robert Ghukasian, has responded on his Facebook page to a video published by a member of the "Our Way" movement, summarizing the visit of the movement's members to Syunik and noting that there are schools closing and jobs being cut in the region.

Ghukasian also addressed the statement made by Narek Karapetyan, the coordinator of the "Our Way" movement and the nephew of the imprisoned billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, claiming that the government is closing schools and that the roads in Syunik are impassable.

“Newly emerged political figures trying to find their place in the Armenian political landscape have adopted and popularized the trend of 'electoral marches,' starting from Syunik, and have used the term Syunik to gain views, influence, and 'likes' from an unaware foreign audience,” Ghukasian wrote. “The expectations of spreading broadcasts that provoke smirks and pity across our region are clear to anyone with even a bit of thought, especially citizens living in Syunik who feel the vibrant pace of development here. Sensational and reality-distorting headlines are for the ignorant…”

The syunik resident knows that instead of reaching his region and communities via outdated roads in the past, he now has well-maintained highways. By the way, those who are coming to the region for political guest appearances also travel on these newly built roads, surely pleased in their minds, while during filming they choose routes that are still planned but not yet completed.

The syunik resident knows that during the period of independent Armenia, there has been no construction, development, or improvement of such magnitude and quality in his region, as witnessed in recent years. The syunik resident sees that communities are developing without romanticized development programs from figures who newly learned the place names and still pronounce them in Soviet style.

Moreover, the syunik resident knows that instead of schools closing down, new, technologically equipped, modern, and comfortable educational complexes and schools are being built in the region, where not only local children but also those from neighboring areas who have been deprived of centralized heating, sanitary facilities worthy of a human, computers, and laboratories will attend.

He is aware that before these schools are put into operation, all roads leading to educational institutions will also be constructed and improved. The concerned figures in the Sisian community also know that, for example, the reconstruction of a 10 km section of the Sisian-Ashotavan-Tasik-Aravis local road with a cost of 1.99 billion drams has just been completed in that community. Or that the final phase is underway for the reconstruction of a section of the local road leading to the Vagatian settlement, costing 420 million drams.

As for schools, no matter how sensational and impactful the phrase 'schools are closing' may be, currently, 11 schools are under construction in the Sisian community, 3 are undergoing reconstruction, 1 newly built school is already operational, and 1 renovated school is in the furnishing phase. This rectifies the deplorable situation that has persisted since the 1990s. Due to the poor condition of school buildings, the schools in Salvard and Hatsavan were temporarily located in adapted buildings since 1990 and in Tasik since 1993 until new school buildings could be constructed. All these years, children have been deprived of gymnasiums, laboratories, and other basic school facilities.

In the Sisian community alone, a new building has been constructed for a school intended for 100 students and 20 preschoolers in the village of Vagatian. The building of the Sisian Number 4 Primary School has been renovated, and it will have entirely new furniture. Ongoing are renovations for: Darbas village's school for 150 students and 50 preschoolers; Ishkhanasar village's school for 144 students; Sarnakunk village's school for 144 students and 40 preschoolers; Ashotavan village's school for 144 students and 80 preschoolers; Noravan village's school for 144 students and 40 preschoolers; Uytz village's school for 144 students and 40 preschoolers; Shaki village's school for 200 students and 40 preschoolers; Shaghat village's school for 200 students; Angehakot village's school for 300 students; Brnakot village's school for 300 students, as well as the renovation work of the school buildings in Gorayk and Akhlyatyan villages. All schools will be equipped with new furniture after the construction works are completed.

And updating the political short memories, let me note that it was back in 2017 when the government formed by the party not far from today’s 'caring' political figure decided to implement reforms and optimizations in the education sector, covering schools with fewer than 150 students, announcing expected savings from them. Now, schools are not closing to save costs. The government is building and renovating schools, and the purpose of today’s reforms is to create quality education and modern conditions for our children,” Ghukasian concluded.