However, some were surprised to see Kyalyan as rector, while others were not so surprised at the results. The results were not surprising even for her competitor Marine Safaryan, head of the physio-pulmonology department of the medical university. “Maybe it should have been this way”, she said after counting the votes and immediately left. Although before the elections rumors were going around that the Kyalyan’s election was decided beforehand and that the President’s office has even assigned the Minister of Education and Science to provide 100% “yes” votes for Kyalyan, however Kyalyan was really surprised. “Unlike the journalists, who thought that I’d win, I had a lot of doubts because it was a secret closed voting and you never know what’s going to happen”, said Kyalyan.
The elections of the rector of the State Medical University of Yerevan (SMUY) took place in the session hall of the university. There was no one else inside the hall besides the university administration members. The doors were guarded by policemen. There were no incidents. Only journalists were waiting behind the doors, the students didn’t even know anything. After the conclusion of the results Hranush Hakobyan, member of the board, said, “It would be better if the voting was open and the journalists were present to hear opinions”. NA Deputy Hranush Hakobyan has hardly known Kyalyan and she has never met the other candidate before. Before voting the former rector of the university Vilen Hakobyan said that he has announced that he’s going to nominate Kyalyan, “I have never been called anywhere by any one and no one has ever made me nominate her. And I don’t think my speech has had any influence on the voters because they’re all mature enough not to be seduced by eloquent speeches”. “Honestly I didn’t think that there would be 32 votes for “yes””, said the newly elected rector. After taking on her responsibilities, Gohar Kyalyan will probably refuse jointly working with her husband in construction and will only be occupied with solving university issues. “On the basis of educational reforms I see the transformation from the communist system to modern management…I am not going to get rid of cadres, however I’m going to fire certain people. I don’t incline to work in a narrow group because as they say two heads are better than one. I will keep lecturing in my department because I like it. Plus, I have many books written. I think we are smart enough to become the best medical university in the region”, said Kyalyan as she talked about her future plans.