YSLU students staging protest in front of Armenian Government building.

The Minister of Education and Science, Armen Ashotyan, did not accept the ‘invitation' of students of Yerevan State Linguistic University (YSLU) who gathered outside the ministry building on Wednesday, demanding that the Minister ‘go out and talk to them in the building yard.'

The group expressed their protest against the Minister's April 17 decision to relieve Suren Zolyan from his duties as YSLU Rector. In response to journalists, Armen Ashotyan said that Zolyan had been dismissed after a warning from the ministry, followed by check-in at the university, during which some violations were registered.

Later, the Minister invited the ‘angered' students to his room to consider the issue. However, YSLU students, who are fighting for their dismissed rector's return, turned down the Minister's invitation and decided to continue their protest outside the Government building.

A five-member delegation of students is currently negotiating with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. The students demand that the Armenian premier and minister of education visit YSLU on Thursday to discuss the issue.
YSLU Rector Suren Zolyan released a statement on Tuesday in which he advised Armen Ashotyan "to follow the law on Legal Acts, according to which the rector of YSLU is elected by the council of YSLU and the decision is confirmed by the Government of Armenia."