Possible resignation of Armenia’s education minister under discussion

The ruling Civil Contract party in Armenia is reportedly discussing the potential resignation of Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan.

According to Caliber.Az, citing sources quoted by the newspaper Zhokhovurd, party officials are dissatisfied with the fact that Andreasyan has not faced any accountability following the arrest of her associate, Srbuhi Gevorgyan, Rector of the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Kh. Abovyan, in a corruption case. The party believes that Andreasyan could not have been unaware of the activities occurring at the university.

During the party board meeting, members sought to ascertain the stance of party leader and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, but he reportedly did not provide any clear position on the matter.

The publication also mentioned that Sisak Gabrielyan, a Civil Contract deputy and head of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, allegedly indicated to colleagues that he would soon succeed Andreasyan as minister. However, Gabrielyan later denied these claims in an interview with Zhokhovurd.

For context, Rector Srbuhi Gevorgyan was placed under house arrest with a $50,000 bail. The Anti-Corruption Committee charged her, Vice-Rector Marianna Harutyunyan, and several other university employees with forming and leading an organised group, as well as fraud, large-scale embezzlement, and bribery. All defendants were initially detained on October 17.

By Tamilla Hasanova