Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute resigns, no formal decision yet

Edita Gzoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation, has submitted resignation, but no formal legal decision regarding her dismissal has yet been issued, it said on Wednesday.

“The director has submitted a resignation letter, but there is currently no legal act,” the press service of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute told Panorama.am.

The Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MESCS) said that the appointment or dismissal of the foundation director is decided by its board of trustees.

Hraparak reported earlier that MESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan had told Gzoyan to step down and warned that she would otherwise be dismissed.

According to the report, the ministry’s stated reason was that Gzoyan had allegedly failed to properly oversee construction work at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. Sources cited by the newspaper said that such oversight is not part of the director’s formal responsibilities.

According to the same report, Gzoyan initially chose not to resist and submitted the letter. However, staff members of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute objected and urged her not to rush the decision. Employees reportedly sent a letter to the prime minister asking for clarification about the reasons for another leadership change at the institution.

The letter was later forwarded from the prime minister’s office to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

Some employees believe the move is politically motivated and aimed at replacing Gzoyan with a preferred candidate. They also say that Gzoyan has been actively promoting the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and publishing related academic research.

Gzoyan was elected director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute by unanimous secret ballot during a meeting of the foundation’s board of trustees on 12 February 2024.