Minister: in any case, the rector of State Institute of Theater and  Film is responsible for corruption violations in the university

ArmInfo. In case of confirmation of information on corruption schemes at the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Film, the rector of the university will not be dismissed.  This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Education and Science  of Armenia Araik Harutyunyan on September 20 in a conversation with  reporters.

According to Harutyunyan, the ministry, within the limits of its  powers, will try to find out the rector's involvement in the frauds  alleged by the investigation. But for today, as the minister pointed  out, one can already say that, among other things, the question is  the responsibility of the rector of the university for the quality of  management of the educational institution. "Even if he is not  involved in these corruption schemes, he, like any leader, is  responsible for these actions, since they existed in the department  headed by him," he said.

As Harutyunyan explained, a criminal case on this fact was initiated  on the basis of a complaint statement, received by the Ministry. On  all such statements, including on the possible collection of money in  schools, the Ministry of Education and Science will react in a  similar way, the minister said.

Recall that on September 17, 2018, the Police issued a statement,  according to which, based on the results of the preliminary  investigation, it was possible to find out that in 2012 - 2016, the  teacher of the English language of the Institute was appointed  pro-rector for human resources, international cooperation and  interuniversity affairs. In fact, he did not teach, but at the same  time he received a salary, it was about 3500000 drams. In addition,  it turned out that the wife of the pro-rector and the niece of  another pro-rector were listed at the department. They actually did  not work, but they received a salary, and later they were sent to the  decree. As a result, about 900 thousand drams were wasted (almost  2000 dollars). It also became clear that since January 2016 the  pro-rector of the institute, without a reasonable need, allegedly for  the needs of the institute, signed a lease agreement for the vehicle  with the wife of one of the vice-rectors. The car was used by the  pro-rector, and about 8 million 150 thousand drams (about 16 thousand  979 dollars) were spent from the institute's financial means for car  rent and salary to the driver. A criminal case was opened on the  fact.

As a result, since the morning of September 19 a group of students of  the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Film announced a strike.  They demand the resignation of the rector of the institute David  Muradyan and the Institute's senior staff. Some teachers of the  university also take part in the protest action.  Meanwhile, as David  Muradyan stated, while the law enforcement agencies did not give a  final assessment, I'm not going to resign. According to him, there is  not that number of protesting students whose demands he would have  satisfied. <How many people went on strike? Probably 20, 30 or 40  people. About 800 students get education in this university. So let  the concept of "strike" come up with certain reservations, "Muradyan  said.