Several hundred thousand children in Armenia are growing up and are being raised without a father, sociologist Aharon Adibekyan said at a pres conference on Saturday.

“The father of every third family in Armenia is abroad,” Adibekyan noted. “We [i.e. Armenians] are a nation belonging to the male culture. The role of the father is very important in terms of the spiritual and behavioral upbringing of the children.

“The strength of the Armenian family and the chance to raise a good generation is threatened.”