Within the framework of “Women in the Legislative” series Iravaban.net spoke with Ms Alkhas Ghazaryan, a member of the “Civil Contract” Faction of the National Assembly of the 8th convocation,

The deputy also participated in the 2018 NA special elections, but was not elected. Before becoming a deputy, she worked in the scientific field

– Ms Ghazaryan, you were born in Vaghashen village of Gegharkunik region. Can you name the difficulties that young people face when moving from the rural community to the city?

– The difficulties were mainly related to education. It was a small village and choosing a profession in one of the universities was not so easy. There were a small number of specialists with whom you could study and be admitted to a university. For example, I dreamed of becoming a doctor or a lawyer, but I did not have the opportunity to study at a specialist so that I could choose the profession I dreamed of. We chose from what we had.

I had the opportunity to study chemistry, as my mother was a teacher of the mentioned subject, as well as Armenian language and mathematics. Taking that into account, I was admitted to the Faculty of Chemistry of the Engineering University.

It is a completely different world when you come to the university immediately from the village school. The difficulties were related both to getting used to the environment and to some subjects that were taught at a lower level in the village.

– In 2008 you graduated from the State Engineering University of Armenia. Did you take part in the events and protests that took place at that time?

– My parents were not here, I lived with my two brothers, and they constantly warned me to be careful. On March 1, I do not remember exactly where I was, I was not in the square, but I participated in the demonstrations.

The youth was quite indifferent at that time. How was the choice mainly ․ whoever they wanted, they spent as they wanted. How were the elections conducted? They passed whom they wanted and how they wanted. The people felt themselves useless, that is why there was widespread indifference. There were people who were struggling.

– Did you expect changes in 2008?

– We were waiting, but hopeless. The hope and faith we had in 2018 did not exist in 2008. We believed that it would be good.

– After graduating, before being elected a deputy, you were engaged in scientific activities. You also ran in 2018, you were a candidate for deputy, but you did not appear in the parliament. Why did you decide to be elected a deputy, who offered to join the “Civil Contract” team?

– At that time I was busy with scientific activities. My family suggested why not participate in the elections, another step for the revolution to reach its final result. My father and I were known in the Marz, so I decided to run for a candidate. I wanted to show that a scientific worker can run and be elected. That was how I joined the political team.

– You have been a scientific worker in several organizations. Were you satisfied with the salary you received?

– When I was a state employee, I received very little. In private institutions, compared to state work, the salary was higher. Before I was elected a deputy, I worked as a researcher at the M. Manvelyan Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, and received a net salary of 68,000 drams. While working as an engineer at Institute of Electronic Materials “ENI” I received 90 thousand drams. In case of grants, the salary may increase for several months.

Details in the video