Russian-Armenian University rector resigning

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Prime Minister of Armenia, rector of the Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University Armen Darbinyan is planning to resign. Darbinyan said in a statement on Facebook that the decision is triggered by information he has been receiving that "some circles" in Russia haven't "forgiven" him for writing an open letter to RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan and urging her to respect the choice of the Armenian nation.

According to Darbinyan, he has obtained information that “based on a statement from the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, Armenian colleagues have either already opened or are going to open a criminal case alleged violation of some tender conditions by the university”.

Darbinyan said the case is "completely fabricated" that "they want to achieve my resignation or dismissal at any cost". He added that he would resign only "after the termination of this fabricated case and receiving an apology."

"Some Russian circles seem to be unable to forgive me for my position shown during the days of the Azerbaijani aggression (fall 2020 - Ed.). Let me remind you: in the hottest stage of the war, I expressed public opposition to [Russia's Deputy Chairman of the Security Council] Dmitry Medvedev and [Kremlin spokesperson] Dmitry Peskov, hinting that Armenia and the Armenian people expect from Russia an allied, and not just a mediating approach," Darbinyan wrօte.

"Also, I wasn't forgiven for the open letter I wrote to Margarita Simonyan, in which I demanded respect for the political choice of the Armenian people. And these circles, obviously acting against the interests of both Russia and the Armenian-Russian cooperation, have spared no effort for almost two years to discredit my good name and the good reputation of the Armenian-Russian University."

In the summer of 2020, Darbinyan published a post on his Facebook page in response to a statement from Simonyan who criticized the Armenian authorities. Darbinyan wrote: "When you address the Armenian authorities, you express your frank contempt for them. I want to note that this is our government, elected by the people of Armenia, and the people of Armenia demand a respectful attitude towards their government."