Video: Education Minister Addresses Incident Involving Alen Simonyan

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia, Zhanna Andreasian, has addressed the incident involving the Speaker of the National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, stating that such incidents do not bring honor to any country.

Andreasian expressed this stance during a press briefing with journalists after a government meeting. "I believe that such incidents bring no honor to any country. We must do everything possible to ensure that similar incidents do not recur in the future. I see a significant role for the education system here. The fields of education, science, culture, and sports are sectors with great potential for public solidarity. Such incidents reveal numerous issues concerning public cohesion in our country and, in general, our attitude," Andreasian stated.

When asked how she would respond if someone called her a 'traitor' in the street, Andreasian noted that situations can vary greatly, and a person's reaction may differ in each case. "I believe that holding a public office implies a certain public conduct. We all need to exercise tolerance. We must ensure public solidarity. Such incidents expose the deep-rooted problems we face. I see a lot to be done in the society and all around us, because I do not consider it acceptable for us to label one another in such a manner or treat each other like that. We must reach a situation where we can openly discuss our disagreements while not resorting to insults," the minister remarked.

Addressing the question of whether she, as a representative of the authorities, has ever been attacked by any opposition figure or citizen, Andreasian stated that there is constant targeting and manipulation. "I’ve seen this from the very first day of my appointment. It is a continuous issue surrounding certain topics. Anyone who follows the news can see to what extent individuals holding specific positions are targeted," she noted.

On April 2, an incident occurred between Alen Simonyan and Karen Mkrtchyan of the ARF. Following the incident, Mkrtchyan stated on live television that he had called Simonyan a 'traitor' upon noticing him in the center of the capital, after which Simonyan reportedly instructed security personnel to grab his arms and spit in his face.

Later, Simonyan also clarified the incident, stating that he contrasted freedom of speech and insults with his opinion, after which the young man entered the broadcast and recounted what had happened.