YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Only 8,000 ethnic Russia’s are currently residing in Armenia–which is 43 percent less than eight years ago. The main reason for the decrease in the Russian population of Armenia is the socio-economic plight in the country–Chairman of the "Russia" public organization Yuri Yakovenko told reporters.
The private secondary school "Slavonic" in Yerevan currently has 80 pupils and the tuition fee is $300-$400 a year. The pupils are taught according to the curriculum approved by the Russian Ministry of Education. The Armenian language–literature–history–and geography are also taught in the school. Yakovenko pointed out that the "Russia" training center is expected to be opened–with threater–computer–music and sport as well as foreign-language hobby groups.