General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan issues statement on detention of Levon Hayrapetyan

Armenian General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan (Komandos) has issued a statement on the detention of the Armenian businessman and philanthropist Levon Hayrapetyan.

“The Russian Federal Security Service has detained one of the most active advocates of Russian-Armenian friendship and great patriot of Armenia and Russia, well-known philanthropist Levon Hayrapetyan.

“I have for many years been an intimate friend with Levon Hayrapetyan and I have no doubts that the action was aimed at overshadowing Armenian-Russian friendship, the advisability of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union and, to an extent, affecting the construction of the Defense Army of the Nagorno-Karabakh Artsakh Republic.

“The aforementioned suggests a political order for Levon Hayrapetyan’s detention and prosecution, which has deeply perplexed the people who know the well-known Armenian philanthropist well. The Republic of Azerbaijan is the only state in the world expected to the discontented with Levon Hayrapetyan’s activities. Its leaders are furiously jealous of the Armenian states’ achievements. It is the Azerbaijan that, using windfall petrodollars, is trying to resolve its problems by means of ordinary presents and ‘caviar diplomacy’, a term that has gained international currency. I would like to recall the words of the CE Secretary General, who said that ‘Azerbaijan’s caviar diplomacy is a threat to the CE Parliamentary Assembly’s sovereignty.’

“Regrettably, some Russian structures, including the Federal Security Service, still have in their ranks dishonest people, who are ready to betray their own country’s interests for thirty silver pieces. And I am sure no one doubts that strong Armenians states located between a NATO member-state and Russia is in Russia’s interests.

“I am recalling this fact for one more reason, namely, that Levon Hayrapetyan is the main sponsor of the military schools being constructed in Nagorno-Karabakh, and it is on his initiative that it has been named after the outstanding Russian military figures of Armenian descent – Alexander Suvorov and Valerian Madatov.

“Of course, the Armenian people cannot remain indifferent to Levon Hayrapetyan’s fate, but I am sure that people will raise their voice in his defense not only in Armenia, but also in Russia – the Russia for whose development Levon Hayrapetyan has been and will yet be doing a lot.

“On the other hand, I hope that the misunderstanding will soon be cleared up and Levon Hayrapetyan will resume his noble activities as a tireless champion of Armenian-Russian friendship, which is so necessary for our countries.”