Analysts detect hidden motives in Yerevan students' actions

A march against the initiative of the Armenian Ministry of Education (MoE) to make optional the study of history, Armenian language and literature at non-humanitarian departments was held in Yerevan. Media outlets have treated the protests as a political action.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 4, the youth wing of the ARF "Dashnaktsutyun" Party demanded the resignation of Araik Arutyunyan, the MoE head; on November 11, students and teachers took part in a march along the streets of Yerevan.

Gerasim Vardanyan, a marcher, has noted that their protests are "are being tried to politicize." "Our struggle is for the Armenian language and literature, and for the history of Armenia."

Naira Airumyan, a political observer and an editor of the Russian-language version of the "Lragir.am", believes that protesters are accused of politicizing the issue, since they demand not the abolition of the law, but resignation of the minister.

Boris Navasardyan, the head of Yerevan Press Club, believes that the essence of the protests is to "discredit and weaken the government."

He has added that these forces at this stage have no serious potential for gaining momentum of protest, since they have little support from the public circles.