In the capital city, there has been talk about the need to close the Matenadaran, the national academy of sciences. However, it is important to note that no scientific institution should be shut down in Yerevan. Interestingly, the suggestion has been made that there should be no church in the city and instead, a “spiritual city” should be constructed in a more distant area. This proposal was put forward by Vahé Hovhannisyan, a member of the “Alternative Projects” group, on their Facebook page.

Hovhannisyan explicitly stated, “The conflict within Armenia is intensifying on a new scale. The acting prime minister has even gone so far as to say that there should not be any churches in Yerevan.”

Let us now turn our attention to the education component and critically assess the erroneous narrative being circulated in the media. It appears that the motivation behind this narrative stems from either a desire to hold onto power or dissatisfaction driven by other motives.

In 1915, the intellectual elite silently agreed to the physical extermination of the populace. Presently, we are witnessing a similar scenario as schools in our homeland are being closed down. For the past three years, the residents of Shurnukh have been unable to repair 20 homes. Is the construction of an intellectual city being prioritized ahead of addressing these pressing housing issues?

Which capital city does not have a place of worship? Does Paris, Rome, Moscow, London, or Vienna lack a church? Although their leaders may be unable to express their opinions openly, it is imperative that the associations of intellectuals and the intelligentsia do not remain silent.

If it is deemed inappropriate to have a church in our capital city, then what exactly should be present there? Administrative outposts? Such a program would have devastating consequences for our cultural heritage.

The various changes that have taken place over the past four to five years, such as the constitutional amendment, the hike in electricity prices, mandatory disclosure for activists, the burdensome taxes imposed on businesses, and others, have contributed to the growing social divide and the erosion of moral values. This crisis provides the opportunity to transform our social essence. Now, we must strive for order and attain the desired outcomes.

It is incorrect to pit different segments of the population against each other and say, “You did not utter a word when all this happened,” or “Only four villages took action, yet you are protesting for your church.” To begin with, many of these groups did voice their concerns. Moreover, the lack of proper leadership and vocal protestors does not absolve the wrongdoers of their responsibilities.

A certain group has made the decision to close everything down. Our challenge lies in not allowing such actions to transpire. Ultimately, this group must be replaced by competent intellectuals who possess the necessary expertise.

To reiterate, the idea of closing down the Matenadaran, the national academy of sciences, has been circulating in the capital. However, it is essential that no scientific institution in Yerevan is shut down.

Additionally, there are calls for the absence of a church in Yerevan and instead, the establishment of a “spiritual city” in a more remote location. Theaters and concert halls are also being targeted for closure. Rather, we should be focusing on constructing a “cultural city.” It is disheartening that while nothing substantial has been built, the authorities are determined to close everything down.