Ex-defense minister urges law enforcers ‘to avoid poking their nose' into military’s affairs

A former Armenian minister of defense on Monday urged the law enforcement authorities to avoid any intervention in the military’s affairs.

Speaking to reporters during an anti-government protest in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue, Colonel General Seyran Ohanyan condemned also the reports on the possible arrest of Onik Gasparyan, the chief of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces, “in an apparent effort to force him into silence”.

“I would recommend that the law enforcement sector avoid poking its nose into the army’s affairs, as they are in for a real serious test now,” he said.

“It would be nice, of course, if everything went smooth, but when the army sees that these authorities are little by little handing over the country to the Turks, it comes up with such a decision [i.e. – the statement demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation]. So I would suggest today that the General Headquarters and its chief appear with a kind of explanatory statement for our people,” the former minister said, calling also on the population to stand by the military.

Ohanyan said he met with the prime minister during the war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) “to discuss all the mobilization-related problems” and introduce the main action plan drawn by himself.

The former minister cited Clause 11 of the document, which he said “provided for the perspective replenishment” and recovery of sanitary losses, as well as the conduct of special month- or week-long gatherings (or similar events with any other duration).

“What was supposed to be accomplished within 48 hours was carried out by them in 44 days. I told them that I had come to Artsakh on my own will as I was been nether invited nor sent back. I am facing prosecution in connection with the March 1 [tragic post-electoral events], but I am not here to gain dividends,” he added.  

Ohanyan said he never saw the prime minister follow the plan “despite giving a promise”. “I never saw anyone hold a pen or write with a pen. All [the actions] were led ‘on foot’, and this is actually why we have such an outcome,” he added.