Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Gyumri on 25 August with his wife Anna Hakobyan and their daughters, and participated in the festive events dedicated to Gyumri Day. This year, the events dedicated to Gyumri Day were held under the title “Gyumri, City of Masters.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit began on the renovated Shiraz Street, whose opening was carried out with a ceremony. The red ribbon adorning the entrance of the street was cut by the grandchildren of the renowned Armenian poet Hovhannes Shiraz.
The head of government walked through the streets of Gyumri, greeted the residents of Gyumri gathered outside, congratulated them on the occasion of the city’s day, and conveyed his best wishes.
During his walk on Shiraz Street, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan familiarised himself with the exhibition of students of Gyumri’s Aesthetic Centre, as well as the 21 pavilions presented within the framework of the Crafts and Arts Festival. The Prime Minister, together with his family, also visited the Church of the Holy Sign (Surb Nshan), then watched the circle dance of the “Ani” dance ensemble near the church. Nikol Pashinyan and Anna Hakobyan joined the circle dance and danced to the sounds of traditional Armenian music.
Subsequently, Prime Minister Pashinyan attended the festive events titled “Gyumri’s Greats Speak,” watching the open-air theatrical performances: “Frunze Welcomes You” at the Mher Mkrtchyan Memorial House-Museum, “The Guest Master” at the Avetik Isahakyan House-Museum, and “Hovhannes Shiraz Invites” at the Hovhannes Shiraz Museum.
The Prime Minister, together with his family, visited the Dzitoghtsyan House-Museum, the museum of folk architecture and urban life of Gyumri, and then the house-museum of sculptor Sergey Merkurov.
In the evening, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the “Gyumri Day 2019” festive concert, during which he announced that Gyumri would be the centre of this year’s independence celebrations, saying: “This year Gyumri will be the centre of the celebrations of Armenia’s Independence Day on 21 September, that is, the main celebrations of 21 September will take place in the city of Gyumri. Thus, we are laying the foundation of a new tradition: in this way, every year we will move 21 September, Independence Day, from province to province, and we will begin this from Gyumri.”
