Powers of the Rector of the Institute of Physical Culture to Be Revoked: 'Hayots Ashkharh'

The law enforcement authorities have initiated proceedings against university rectors. The first accused is the rector of the State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. This was reported by the newspaper 'Hayots Ashkharh'.

According to the newspaper, the Attorney General Anna Vardapetyan has appealed to the Minister of Education and Science with a request to revoke the rector's powers.

The newspaper reached out to the Prosecutor's Office to clarify the information, to which the advisor to the prosecutor, Lusine Martirosyan, responded: 'Sufficient factual data has been obtained during the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings conducted by the Investigative Committee's Syunik Regional Investigative Department, indicating that D.H., holding the position of rector of the 'State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports of Armenia', has, with a personal other motive, committed official forgery. Specifically, on February 2, 2022, he entered false information into a material carrier containing legally significant information regarding Armen Vazgenyan's admission to the Physical Culture State Institute (currently 'State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports of Armenia') in 2006, falsely claiming that he graduated in 2010 with a degree in 'Physical Culture and Sports', and that he was granted the bachelor's degree of 'Physical Culture Teacher, Chess Coach', while also falsely stating that, due to technical reasons, the diploma would be delivered in June 2022. This information was provided to Armen Vazgenyan, who had not graduated from the mentioned institution and had an outstanding state exam at the time the information was provided.'

Based on evidence indicating the commission of the crime, a decision was made by the overseeing prosecutor on May 2, 2023, to initiate public criminal prosecution against Davit Khitaryan under the first part of Article 445 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. On the same day, the decision was sent to the body conducting the proceedings to present charges against D. Khitaryan, while simultaneously instructing that he be suspended from office as an alternative precautionary measure.'