2022 September 1

Daily news wrap-up

Sep/1/2022 __ new Academic City in Ashtarak; universities to merge w/ research institutes; school reforms __ Traitors to be executed? __ 2020 war: ex-army chief told soldiers to abandon strategic hill __ Salaries +16%, pensions up __ Digitization __ Billionaire moves to Artsakh __ Ukraine war
by ar_david_hh

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11 minutes, 2777 words.

September 1: school resumes

Pashinyan: Congrats on the new school year. On July 28 we adopted the 2030 Education Program bill, which will be finalized in parliament. It outlines our actions from preschool to post-graduate education.

major reforms will give every child access to education: Pashinyan

Today, tens of thousands of children are deprived of the opportunity to receive education in proper kindergartens, preschools, and schools. The facilities aren't always accessible to learners and do not prepare professionals.

This leads to unemployment and complaints by employers about the absence of a qualified workforce.

Our universities lack proper standards. Having a diploma doesn't always mean having higher education. We have people with 2 diplomas who struggle to find a job. They live in poverty. This is a landmine placed under Armenia's future.

This is why we have launched major [education reforms](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/x2lyqe/aug312022_interview_with_economy_minister_194/), as promised during the electoral campaign. We will build and renovate 300 schools and 500 kindergartens by 2026. //

the emigration out of villages was partly due to a lack of accessible education, starting preschool: Pashinyan

Children weren't given a chance to prosper, so parents preferred to leave the villages for the benefit of their children. The new high-quality kindergartens and schools will become the cornerstone of their revival.

we will have inter-village education complexes: Pashinyan

It's for villages that don't have sufficient numbers for having their separate school and kindergarten. Children from several villages will be able to study together. We will build new roads and buy new school buses.

The program will also enable mothers to have access to education so they can join the labor market and contribute to Armenia's political, economic, and civilizational development.

the process is underway to triple teachers' salaries: Pashinyan

We can't tolerate the ridiculous salaries paid to school and kindergarten teachers, thus a process has been launched to triple their salaries. This must be accompanied by the voluntary exam/certification process.

This will be a continuous process. Certified teachers will have a chance to receive another raise every five years through this voluntary certification process.

Eventually, teachers who refuse to get certified for several years will lose their job.

we plan to merge several universities and form up to 8 state universities in Armenia: Pashinyan

This can no longer be delayed. Look at the embarrassing admission exam statistics. Over 60% of admission seats in universities are vacant. The situation is much worse in private universities. We have universities where the state has allocated seats and 98% of these seats remained vacant.

the consolidated universities will be integrated with scientific-research institutes: Pashinyan

University standards either don't exist, or they don't function. We will merge them with scientific institutes. There will be 8 state universities in Armenia. They will be in line with international standards and fully funded by the state.

the new Academic City will be located in Ashtarak: Pashinyan

We have determined the location of the Academic City. It will be in Ashtarak (Aragatsotn). The merged universities will, over time, move to the Academic City. These universities must be appealing to foreign students as well.

We must set new standards, implement them in these state universities, and require all other universities to meet these standards. You won't be able to slap a "university" tag on any building and claim it's a university.

Armenia has been at the center of international scandals over the years. Some "universities" were selling diplomas to "neurosurgeons". These people would get a job abroad, cause an accident, and drag Armenia into the scandal.

prioritize skills over diploma: Pashinyan

We are going to scrap the requirement for teachers to have diplomas. The best welder is someone who welds a lot, and not necessarily someone with a degree. Why would you appoint a historian, who just reads welding tutorials, to teach welding?

The "welders" will be retrained and receive tutoring skills so they will know how to interact with their students and the education system.

We want middle-aged and elder residents to also attend school so they can improve their skills and become more competitive in the labor market. //

Get context about the planned Academic City and university reforms [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wajlae/your_thursday_news_digest_from_armenia_jul282022) and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/wjnjam/your_monday_news_digest_from_armenia_aug82022/).

[watch more,](https://youtu.be/2TazNpXJJNI) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091473.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1091476.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091480.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1091480.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091481.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091485.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091485.html) [watch,](https://youtu.be/Xs0GMDeVjeQ?t=153)

everyone is getting a raise at Yerevan State University: rector

The 1,375 professors and tutors will receive a 10% raise starting today, while the rest of the staff will receive one starting January 2023.

[read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/243151)

Artsakh president accompanied her daughter to her first class | VIDEO

Arayik Harutyunyan: Հարգելի՛ հայրենակիցներ, շատ արցախցիների նման այսօր իմ դուստրն էլ առաջին անգամ ոտք դրեց դպրոցի շեմին: Ես մեր բոլոր փոքրիկներին մաղթում եմ կանաչ ճանապարհ, խաղաղ ու անհոգ, հետաքրքիր ու ջերմ հիշողություններով լեցուն դպրոցական տարիներ:

[watch,](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1172978276614981) [read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/243215)

several schools & roads are under construction

▶︎ The construction of the North-South highway's Gyumri-Lanjik section is underway. This 27.5km road will be fully ready by Q4 2023.

▶︎ Another one is a 4.9km road between Horom-Artik-Alagyaz. It will have a new drainage system.

▶︎ Azatani will have a new seismic-proof school complex for 380 students. It's a $3.9m project.

▶︎ $185k was allocated to build a kindergarten in Akhuryan (Shirak). The construction is underway.

▶︎ Construction is underway in Gyumri's 7.2-hectare Բարեկամություն Park. It will have a new drinking and irrigation water network, sewage, electric network, and lighting. The city will allow the "ՏՈՒՖ" tourism foundation to manage the area once it's ready. The foundation is designing leisure areas with carousels.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091479.html)

Pashinyan: is it really that difficult to use caution signs and safety tapes on construction sites?

PM: So many companies either don't use anything or reuse Soviet-era armbands used by druzhinniks. If you don't have a couple of bucks to buy the signs, come to us, we will give you money. From now on, every time I see a construction site without signs, I'm going to get out of the vehicle and give them $4. //

[watch,](https://youtu.be/2TazNpXJJNI?t=2997)

you will soon have a chance to take a ride in a government vehicle

The Executive branch will sell another 650 vehicles soon. These are mostly old models that require repairs. "We are wasting resources on them," said a suspiciously fat official.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091497.html)

anti-corruption: ex-mayor of Ayntap is charged with crimes

Authorities: The 2010-2021 mayor of Ayntap, who is currently the deputy mayor of Masis, committed forgery and abused his powers.

The mayor forged documents and intentionally allowed illegal construction to continue.

In 2014 he falsified documents to allow his brother to privatize lands belonging to Ayntap. In 2020 he committed another forgery to sell several pieces of land to himself and others.

The ex-mayor is charged with multiple counts of felony abuse of power and forgery. //

[read,](https://factor.am/548691.html)

SOAD vocalist Serj Tankian arrives in Armenia ahead of STARMUS science festival | PHOTO

He took a photo with singer Sevak Amroyan. Tankian is set to perform with Queen's Brian May next week.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091477.html)

a Turkish couple was confronted by Vedi residents for using "insults" after an alcohol party

Turkish tourists, a husband and wife, decided to organize a party in Vedi yesterday. It led to a confrontation after they "drank cognac" and disrespected the locals. The police were called to break up the scuffle.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091490.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091487.html) [read,](https://youtu.be/6hkh04cCefY)

Iran wants to build trade & tech cities jointly with Armenia near the border

A governor of an Iranian province visited Armenia after a trip to Azerbaijan. He is discussing joint projects with neighboring states.

In Meghri, the Iranian governor spoke about the customs checkpoint and the formation of trade and tech centers near the border. He will meet private businesses and public officials.

[read,](https://factor.am/548986.html)

digitization

Compulsory Enforcement Service can freeze your bank account if you owe money. Today, if you repay the debt, it takes a full week to regain access to the account.

As part of digitization reforms, the agency has launched a pilot program to reduce the wait time to 1 business day. The system will be automated in coordination with banks.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091528.html)

police spokesman explains why the recent anti-Putin rally was dispersed from Opera backyard

Reporter: The group had informed the city about the planned meeting. Why were they dispersed?

Spokesman: We had received information, and we already began seeing signs, that a rival group with an opposing political ideology was also at the scene of the rally.

The police assessed that the situation could quickly get out of control and lead to serious clashes, so they decided that it was best to end the rally to protect the public. //

[watch,](https://youtu.be/x7NeDaBpHgY?t=135)

salaries in July 2022 vs 2021

Average nominal wages +16.2%, reaching ֏240,000 ($593).

Public sector salaries +3.6%, reaching ֏199,300 ($492).

Private sector salaries +20.7%, reaching ֏257,000 ($635).

[read,](https://factor.am/548963.html)

starting today, all pensions increase by at least ֏3,000

The decision was announced a few months ago and went into effect today. Some seniors were going to receive a smaller increase, but a decision was made today to set 3k as the minimum raise.

>the average pension is expected to increase by 3,100 drams up to 44,300 drams, the military pension - by 5,500 drams up to 82,750 drams

The pensions are set to increase again in January or July of 2023.

[read,](http://arka.am/en/news/society/government_raises_all_pensions_by_3_000_drams_/)

women's European chess championship is over

Armenia's Lilith Mkrtchyan finished 4th. The Polish player won.

[read,](http://chess-results.com/tnr652617.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=11&turdet=YES&flag=30) [read,](https://www.chess.com/news/view/monika-socko-wins-2022-european-women-chess-championship)

General Prosecutor wants to execute people convicted of treason

Artur Davtyan: We propose legal amendments to create the grounds for the execution of those convicted of high treason. I became convinced that this is necessary after the post-war treason investigations.

Armenia has no international legal obligations that ban executions. It is banned under our Constitution (24.3). We can amend this. The Constitution also allows us to deviate from human rights obligations in times of war. I've sent the suggestions to the Constitutional reform committee. //

Human Rights Ombudsman is against the idea. She believes it's best to take steps to prevent instances of treason.

General Prosecutor expressed regret that the Ombudsman expressed opposition "without first discussing the reasons and justifications behind the proposal".

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091499.html) [prosecutors explain the conventions,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091518.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091521.html) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091527.html)

💥 wartime Artsakh army commander is accused of illegally ordering troops, who had just liberated a strategic hill, to retreat, leading to bloody and unsuccessful attempts to retake it

In case you missed it, Mikael Arzyumanyan was arrested [on Tuesday](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/x1upab/your_tuesday_news_digest_aug302022/). He was accused of allowing Azeris to reach Shushi unopposed from one of the wings, lack of communication with units that lead to casualties, not using 650 available soldiers to defend Shushi, and lying about "having the situation under control" in Shushi.

Authorities have new charges: On September 28, a strategically important north-eastern hill known as "Arega", with a command outpost, fell under Azeri control. The same day the Armenian troops launched an unsuccessful attempt to retake it.

The following day Armenians launched a new operation that was successful. Azeris sustained heavy losses and retreated at 9:50 am. Armenians regained control of the hill, neighboring positions, and the enemy's supply road.

During the operation, Armenian soldiers destroyed 10 armored vehicles, the majority of Azeri soldiers on the hill, and captured two armored vehicles.

At 4:00 pm, Maj. Gen. Mikael Arzumanyan [at the time not army commander yet] approached the soldiers who had liberated the hill and learned details about the operation and how Armenians were in control of the road feeding the enemy positions.

Without having the authority to issue orders to these soldiers, and without having the permission to be in that location, Arzumanyan ordered the troops to abandon the Arega hill, while claiming that "another operation" was planned to be carried out in this direction.

The soldiers refused to follow Arzumanyan's orders [oooof]. Angry Arzumanyan contacted the soldiers' immediate superior commander and urged him to order his troops to retreat.

The soldiers' commander was also against the idea of abandoning the hill, citing the risk of Azeri takeover and encirclement of Armenian troops.

Persistent Arzumanyan used the fact that the unit commander was formerly his subordinate, and demanded/convinced him to issue a retreat order, by claiming that he possessed more information than the commander. The commander finally agreed.

As a result, Armenian soldiers retreated to initial positions, allowing the enemy to advance unobstructed and retake Arega and surrounding areas by 11:00 pm. They proceeded to fortify the positions and use the favorable ground to launch attacks in other directions.

Armenian soldiers later made unsuccessful attempts and sustained casualties while attepting to retake Arega on October 3 and 5.

Mikael Arzumanyan is charged under Article 375.4 (up to 13 years). This is in addition to his other Shushi-related charges (up to 8 years). //

[read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/243219) [read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091508.html) #war #commander

government drafts a bill to expand the list of agencies with access to classified information

The bill will allow Justice Ministry to have access to information about troop deployment, operational programs, certain types of written orders, etc.

[read,](https://factor.am/548999.html)

Russian-Armenian billionaire Ruben Vardanyan renounces Russian citizenship and moves to Artsakh

It's part of a campaign by Vardanyan to encourage the public to be more active in finding solutions to Artsakh's economic and security needs. He will move to Artsakh as an Armenian citizen. "We will not allow you to gradually push the Armenians out of here," he said.

Vardanyan thanked the Russian peacekeepers and called for the broadening of their mandate until the Armenian army regains its strength. He warned Azerbaijan that the use of force today can one day return like a boomerang.

He also thanked the ambassadors of the U.S. and France for refusing to attend the Aliyev regime's meeting in Shushi.

[read,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1091511.html)

sharp reduction of brushfires in Yerevan amid expansion of irrigated and treated lands

Luys party leader Khazhakyan: The hot summer is coming to an end, yet we have overlooked something very important: no large grasslands have caught fire in Yerevan this summer, unlike in previous years. This year the size of irrigated and hand-treated lands was larger, while the efforts were coordinated. Can you compare this to the 2019-2020 fires? //

[read,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/243210)

AI, show us an image of Alexis Ohanian eating honey in Garni Temple

[witness it,](https://i.imgur.com/VupKNf4.png)

in case you missed

Yesterday's news in English, русский (by Impossible-Ad-). Archive by Armeniapedia. Donate to Armenia & Artsakh here

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/x3fsl1/sep12022_new_academic_city_in_ashtarak/