Suren Zolyan says he has been robbed
Gayane Gasparyan, the newly elected rector of Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Bryusov, is said to have burnt incense before entering her new office.
"She did it to frighten evil spirits away or something like that. I did not understand it properly. Can you imagine such a thing in the 21st century? I cannot even find words to comment on it," said Suren Zolyan, the ex-rector of the university.
Yesterday's elections at the university as a result of which Gayane Gasparyan was named the new rector of the Linguistic University are ‘the continuation of [Minister] Armen Ashotyan's illegitimate actions,' says the ex-rector.
"Both the reprimand I received and my ensuing dismissal were part of this illegality," he said.
Suren Zolyan claims that of the 24 members of the university's scientific council ten had no right to participate in the vote. He is hopeful that Prime Minister Tigran Sargyan will not ratify yesterday's decision.
Mr. Zolyan who headed Yerevan State Linguistic University for 15 years, is still uncertain about his future.
"First I shall try to return what they took from me by force. Then I shall think about my future work."
On June 14, Suren Zolyan will dispute in a Yerevan court Armen Ashotyan's decision to relive him of his duties as YSLU rector.
The intensifying dispute between Ashotyan and Zolyan was sparked by Ashotyan's April 6 decision to formally reprimand Zolyan for being absent from Armenia from during 19-23 March without his permission. The rector reacted furiously and lambasted the young minister through the media before receiving a second "strict reprimand" on 17 April and a final decree on his dismissal signed by the minister on the same day.
The longtime rector of the YSLU refused to comply with his sacking, alleging that it runs counter to Armenian law and that only the government as a whole can relieve him of his duties. Talking to hundred students who gathered in his support on 18 April Zolyan said he 'had suspended the minister's decree and remained. Ashotyan suggested that Zolyan challenge the order in court. In the long run, Gayane Gasparyan was elected new rector of the university on June 12.
