Important that Opera in Yerevan Doesn’t Turn Into a Russian Cultural Center: Newspaper

Appointed as the director of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Alexander Spendiaryan in Yerevan is Andranik Arzumanyan, who worked for many years as head of the Russian Culture Center in Egypt but returned to Armenia a few years ago due to "family reasons," reports local daily Chorrord Inqnishkhanutyun, adding that this, of course, is the most brilliant staffing decision.

"The position of director of the opera could be entrusted only to that person who has great experience in advocating and disseminating Russian culture in Middle Eastern countries. By the way, the management of Russian cultural centers in foreign countries is considered a diplomatic service; therefore, in all likelihood, Mr. Arzumanyan is a Russian citizen. Or, he was a Russian citizen before moving to Armenia because of 'family matters'. 

"In any case, what's important is that the opera theater in Armenia does not become a center of Russian culture," reports the newspaper.