Scandal in Armenia: museum director dismissed for gifting book to US vice-president

The Armenian government faced a significant controversy in March 2026 when the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Edita Gzoyan, was dismissed. For several days, public discussion centered on the reasons for her departure, with the museum’s board of trustees citing construction work at the memorial complex as a key factor. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan intervened, stating the dismissal was unrelated to the construction and questioning the appropriateness of gifting a book to a foreign official.

Gzoyan had presented US Vice-President JD Vance with a book detailing “aggression against Armenians” between 1905 and 1921, a period linked to Azerbaijan. This action triggered widespread concern, with observers interpreting it as a challenge to Armenia’s foreign policy. A group of scholars issued a statement warning about a “threat to academic freedom,” and over two dozen genocide researchers called for Gzoyan’s reinstatement.

All 74 employees of the museum-institute also appealed to the prime minister, emphasizing her qualifications and contributions. Raymond Kevorkian, chair of the board, resigned in protest. Pashinyan defended the dismissal, arguing that a public official’s actions should align with government foreign policy and criticizing Gzoyan’s actions as “provocative.” He emphasized the importance of a state operating with a defined governance logic.

The situation highlighted concerns about political interference within the museum, particularly regarding academic freedom and the potential suppression of critical research. Genocide researchers expressed worry that Gzoyan resigned under pressure, pointing to the timing of Vance’s visit and her discussion of related historical events, including violence in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku. They viewed the dismissal as an attempt to avoid open discussion of atrocities and align the museum’s work with geopolitical priorities.

The scholars stressed the museum’s role as a scientific institution and called for protection from political interference, urging the Armenian government to respect its independence and allow Gzoyan to continue her work without pressure.

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