The desire to remain in the swamp: Dismantling of the AGMI

Recently, it became known that Education, Science, Culture and Sports Minister Zhanna Andreasyan decided to dismiss Dr. Edita Gzoyan from her position of director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI). This highly unusual decision has caused confusion and bewilderment within Armenia’s academic community. The decision appears arbitrary, ignoring the opinion of the AGMI staff members, who collectively opposed it. Moreover, the scholar members of the Board of Trustees were firmly against it. In protest, the board’s chairman, prominent French Armenian historian Raymond Kevorkian, resigned, followed by board members Harutyun Marutyan, Hranush Kharatyan and Stephan Astourian.

The young and ambitious scholar Edita Gzoyan had been elected to the position only two years ago. With a doctorate in international relations from Yerevan State University, a master’s degree in law from the American University of Armenia (AUA) and numerous professional training courses at prestigious Western universities, the new director implemented noticeable reforms in the museum’s scientific and administrative management within two years.