Why Aren't They Criticizing the NSS Director, or Are They Afraid? Hayk Sargsyan on the Jacket Issue

The recently elected MP Hayk Sargsyan has stirred significant discussion online with a photo of himself wearing a personalized jacket. It is worth noting that this jacket is also worn by Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and NSS Director Arthur Vanetsyan. The jacket displays the official title on the right side and the name-surname on the left.

The store that tailored the jacket for Hayk Sargsyan posted on its Facebook page: "The jacket is specially made on request by Hayk Sargsyan. Raf Kanian has ensured high quality through cashmere, natural leather, and suede. We are ready to fulfill every customer's wish."

Irakanum.am sought clarification from Hayk Sargsyan on why the newly elected MP chose to wear such an outfit and how he feels about the criticism.

Sargsyan initially stated that the clothing is not military in nature and does not display military insignia. "Only the colors are military. It was a gift that coincidentally I wore that day. It’s the first day I am wearing it," Sargsyan said. When asked if he wore it to be recognized as an MP, Hayk Sargsyan responded that he has no issues with recognition. "I have no issues with being recognized; maybe other MPs do, you know I don’t face any problems in that regard," he added.

When asked if he might refrain from wearing that jacket anyway after the criticism, the newly elected MP responded, "There’s no issue of refusing; I have plenty of jackets, and I wear a different one every day. Let’s say, who else has faced so much criticism for their jacket that mine is under scrutiny? Why is criticizing a jacket an issue? I don’t understand that." He was informed that the main point of discussion is the personalization of the jacket, to which he countered, asking if it was the first time anyone had seen such a jacket. Similar jackets are worn by the acting prime minister and NSS director. Perhaps it’s a new ‘trend,’ we conveyed to Hayk Sargsyan. "Why aren’t they criticizing the NSS director, or are they afraid to criticize him?" was his response.

Hayk Sargsyan mentioned that he wore military clothing during the revolution and even before. "I have always had military attire in my Facebook pictures; after the army, I have always ordered them, my friends have gifted me various uniforms, just like many people, including girls. There are plenty of girls who wear them; what's the issue with that?" continued the MP. In response to the remark that those are not personalized, Sargsyan pointed out that now it is personal. "There are people who wear clothing with their images. Or, when they say they’ve seen 300,000 in life, or whatever else, what is not written? You know how many times they have mentioned that our house is a three-story house in Yerevan; we have built it for twenty years, my grandfather was a businessman, back in 2008, when I was being pursued, I drove an expensive car worth $40,000. Even during the opposition, we had various concerns, but they don’t talk about that. Now, all of a sudden, they say that our money is coming from somewhere," said Hayk Sargsyan.

He believes that those who have not attained positions after the revolution or have not seen any changes in their lives post-revolution are the ones who complain. Among the complainers, according to the MP, are representatives of the Kocharian faction. Hayk Sargsyan also stated that no one is discussing the fact that he opened the Yerevan-Armar state road yesterday. "In one hour, that road was opened. Why aren’t they saying that this guy was the only one to go into a crowd and open the road?" concluded Hayk Sargsyan.