Armenia’s Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan has warned university rectors and school principals against allowing political campaigning on the premises of their institutions ahead of the May parliamentary elections.

The minister, who is a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, said at a press conference on Wednesday that any university rector, lecturer or student engaged in political activities during working hours or at the expense of classes would be punished. He did not elaborate on how exactly the punishment would be administered.

Ashotyan stressed good work is the best PR for his party. “One should not forget that classes are not transient, but elections are. This is my formula,” the education minister said, according to Aysor.am.