The State Property Management Committee put a historical building up for sale in Goris that has significant meaning. The Goris Teachers’ House had belonged to the Department of Excursions since 1950, then it became a prelacy. Later on, it became a home for teachers from Goris. The deputy mayor of Goris, Irina Yolyan, wrote about this in a Facebook post.
During a phone call with Aravot Daily, Irina Yolyan said that she was informed about the building being put up for sale from the State Property Management Committee’s website.
For many years, teachers from the region received training at the Teachers’ House. However, last year, when the National Institute of Education was dissolved, the building was no longer used. According to the deputy mayor, the sale of historical buildings is unacceptable, especially when it can be transferred to the Goris Local Lore Museum, which is currently located on the first floor of the city’s culture house. There are also plans to establish a carpet museum in Goris, so perhaps the building could be used for that purpose.
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“Archbishop Mesrop Ter-Movsisyan lived in the home in 1870. He organized the committee that was in charge of building the Goris Theater. That building is extraordinary in terms of its colors, purpose, and position. There have been several attempts to sell it over the years, but the building has survived. For the love of God, please don’t try to erase our history for us to see that a car shop is operating in that building’s place. I hope that the State Property Management Committee will review its decision. Selling this building is unacceptable,” Yolyan said.
The people of Goris, especially its intellectuals, were also angry when they found out that the building was put up for sale. A professor at the Goris State University, philologist Mher Kumunts (by the way, Kumunts was fired by the director a second time, and the case is in court- A.D) told Aravot Daily that they will not stay silent and they will fight. According to him, they have not decided upon how they will fight yet, but they will organize a petition. They will also take tougher steps to save the building.
“Unfortunately, many valuables have been alienated from us recently. If the defense positions of Shurnukh and Vorotan have weakened, then the sale of cultural centers is a turning point in the spiritual and cultural life,” Mher Kumuts said.
Armen Davtyan
Photos from Irina Yolyan’s Facebook page
