VIDEO: Nikol Pashinyan's Comments on Sensational Recording Involving Him

This is yet another manifestation of counter-revolution, which awaits a crushing defeat. This was stated by acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a live Facebook broadcast when addressing the sensational recording involving his participation.

"There is no doubt that counter-revolution will face a crushing defeat, and the corrupt system and the corrupt will face arrests and convictions," he noted.

It should be reminded that a recording of phone conversations between NSS Chief Arthur Vanetsyan and Special Investigative Service Chief Sasun Khachatryan, as well as between Vanetsyan and Nikol Pashinyan, was published shortly before. In the recording, Pashinyan and Vanetsyan discuss the decision to arrest the former Secretary General of the CSTO Yuri Khachaturov and the possible problems arising from it.

The transcript of the conversation is as follows:

Vanetsyan - Hello, Mr. Prime Minister.
Pashinyan - Hello, dear Vanetsyan, what's up?
Vanetsyan - Good, normal, normal. Mr. Prime Minister, now look; we want to take Khachaturov into custody, Sasun wants to, but since Khachaturov is the Secretary General of the CSTO, he has to think a bit about it, he is close to the Russians...
Pashinyan - When?
Vanetsyan - Now, Sasun wants to take him now. Look, we haven't interrogated him yet. We can postpone his interrogation. Let's do Kocharian today, finish that, and postpone him again.
Pashinyan - Yeah. But we need to inform him in advance so that there won't be any issues. What about the other part?
Vanetsyan - I talked to Sasun about the other part; Sasun says he's sure. The judge called me; he is a bit afraid of giving custody, I said he should study the case thoroughly and call me to let me know where he sees any loopholes, and I'll tell him. Now the judge is looking at that, he'll call, he'll say, Mr. Prime Minister.
Pashinyan - Very good; let them postpone that part until I... well, I'm here, and we'll talk normally. Did the meeting go well?
Vanetsyan - Very well, Mr. Prime Minister. I will postpone the thing, but we're arresting Kocharian.
Pashinyan - Very good.

Vanetsyan - Mr. Prime Minister, the Russians are handling that arrest very heavily, Khachaturov’s. Representatives have come from both the intelligence and the Federal Security Service. They say not to do such a thing, regardless, at least remove him from the CSTO first; it will be very heavy.
Pashinyan - And is there any news regarding Kocharian?
Vanetsyan - Kocharian will be done.
Pashinyan - Who came then?
Vanetsyan - Representatives from the intelligence and FSB have come, they are saying that this would be a major blow to the CSTO's reputation; at least withdraw it and do whatever you want afterward.
Pashinyan - Well, if he goes, he won't come back either.
Vanetsyan - Well, we won't let him go; we will keep him. We can give him status or do something, but not arrest him. Because they say it will be a significant problem.
Pashinyan - Okay, talk to Sasun.
Vanetsyan - Well, shouldn't we take him into custody?
Pashinyan - If we can do it in such a way that he doesn't leave the country...

Vanetsyan - It's very heavy, it’s like arresting the NATO Secretary General now. It’s the authority of that structure.
Pashinyan - Okay, I will call in a little while.
Vanetsyan - Okay.

Next, Arthur Vanetsyan calls Sasun Khachatryan.

Khachatryan - Yeah, buddy.
Vanetsyan - The Russians are handling this very heavily; very much. We might cause such a problem... I just informed the Prime Minister. Again representatives are calling from both intelligence and FSB.
Khachatryan - What should I do, should I suggest bail?
Vanetsyan - Well, let them apply bail, or choose a preventive measure.
Khachatryan - I think bail is better; let it be a large bail so they won't stick to reasonable suspicion. But, I don't know, what should I do? Should I tell the judge?
Vanetsyan - What does the judge need? We'll tell him, that’s not the question, but let’s understand what we are doing.
Khachatryan - You talk to the Prime Minister.
Vanetsyan - I did, it was during the meeting; he said what's important is that he doesn't flee the country.
Khachatryan - Well, can Khachaturov be released on large bail?
Vanetsyan - Where is he going to pay that large bail from?
Khachatryan - A big one, isn’t it a matter of 20 million or something?
Vanetsyan - Yeah... if you choose signature.
Khachatryan - Buddy, he works abroad; how to choose signature? Bail is more appropriate. Signature, if I choose, should I let him go outside?
Vanetsyan - Maybe we won't let him go? Okay, you do something; let it drag.
Khachatryan - The meeting is at 3 o'clock.
Vanetsyan - Tell them to postpone the meeting until the Prime Minister can come out of the meeting; we talk, I talked, but we’ll talk again.
Khachatryan - Yeah, talk again; we shouldn’t harm anything.
Vanetsyan - Okay.

Then Vanetsyan calls Nikol Pashinyan again.

Pashinyan - Is everything normal?
Vanetsyan - The rest is normal; we are doing a general thing; the court will make a decision on custody soon. The rest is calm.
Pashinyan - Okay. Are you in Switzerland or in Russia?
Vanetsyan - I'm in Switzerland; I'm about to fly back to Yerevan.
Pashinyan - Yeah, are you already coming back?

Vanetsyan - Yeah.

Pashinyan - Okay.