Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a government session on September 1 that an academic campus will be built in Ashtarak, Aragatsotn province, where the universities, which are being merged and renovated, will eventually move.

Today, Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vahram Dumanyan explained the decision to move the higher educational institutions to Ashtarak by their expediency, linking it with many factors.

Among them, he mentioned the infrastructure, because "there have been scientific institutes there for a long time.

"We will provide the level of education that we will provide. Do you think it is determined by geographical location?" the Minister expressed bewilderment.

At the same time, the official could not name a specific timeframe for moving the universities to Ashtarak. Opponents of the idea suspect that the authorities intend to sell the university buildings.