The main problem of Russians in Armenia is teaching children, experts say

The Russian Diaspora in Armenia discusses the conference of Russian compatriots that took place in Yerevan. Some of them think the event was productive, others assert its uselessness.

As previously reported by the "Caucasian Knot", the 3rd conference of Russian compatriots in Armenia was held on October 2-3 in Yerevan.

The debates were fruitful and efficient, Ivan Semyonov, chairman of the Foundation for Help and Assistance to Russian Compatriots in Armenia, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In his opinion, for ethnic Russian citizens of Armenia, the most painful problem is to learn Russian and educate their children and young people in the country, where 97 percent of the population are Armenians.

A similar viewpoint was expressed in her interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Aida Arutyunyan, chair of the "Harmony" International Centre of Russian Culture, in whose opinion the Russian community is concerned about the problem of teaching their children. "There are Russian classes in high schools there; but under the conducted reforms now the senior school was established, where education is available only in the Armenian language; that is, there is a real problem to continue education of children of the Russian community," she said.

Another problem, according to Ms Arutyunyan, is the social issue. "There are plenty of lonely elderly people; earlier Russia helped them, but now - because of the crisis - the problem remains unsolved. Many lonely pensioners live in Armenia; they need help, medical care, in particular," she has added.

Aida Arutyunyan spoke positively about the conference and explained that a resolution was adopted on its outcomes, which stated the need to expand educational opportunities in the Russian language and hold more cultural events.

Another representative of one of organizations uniting ethnic Russians in Armenia, who preferred to remain anonymous, named the conference in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" "another empty exercise, which nobody needs." "Who hears us? The conference was ignored both by local authorities and Russian organizations, which abound in Armenia very much. All of them had promised but never came," said the source.