Children burn their paintings as a sign of protest (video)
Hrachya Hambardzumyan, a teacher of painting, sculpture and ceramic classes at the National Centre for Aesthetics (NCA), was fired from job on November 7. NCA Director Levon Igityan said Hambardzumyan was dismissed for frequent absences whereas Hambardzumyan connects the dismissal with his struggle. Relations between the two men deteriorated after the teacher refused to leave the premises at 27 Saryan, where he did lessons. Hrachya Hambardzumyan says Igityan first told him that a furniture workshop would be opened in the area. After the teacher inquired whether the decision was valid or not, Igityan said ‘I am the director and I have the right to decide.’ “We want to be rich and we have the right to be rich. If necessary, we can even open a store. I am empowered to do it,” Hambardzumyan cited Igityan’s words. The teacher says he is not going to leave the area. Today, NCA representatives showed up to make an inventory of the area but refused to do it in the presence of journalists. After their departure, the students of the Department of Sculpture burnt their paintings as a sign of protest. Igityan’s picture was stuck on the plastic containers filled with gasoline.
