If There Are Black-Clad Traitors, They Should Be Arrested and Tried, Not Just Announced: Member of the ARF Supreme Body

Of course, we welcome the fact that they have finally started talking not only about the last 20 years but also about the 25-30 years because the corrupt phenomena in Armenia did not start 20 years ago but much earlier. This was stated by Arthur Khachatryan, a member of the ARF Supreme Body, in an interview with NEWS.am, addressing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement that there are forces today that beat people in the name of national values, while having robbed the country for 25-30 years without remembering national values.

“The plunder under the name of privatization started much earlier, oligarchs emerged much sooner, elections were falsified, parties were closed, media outlets were shut down, and political assassinations took place much earlier,” he noted.

Arthur Khachatryan emphasized that it is necessary to uncover who has plundered the army over the past 25-30 years. “At the same time, we express our bewilderment as to which political force has been in power for 25-30 years and has robbed the army and the police. We call for the immediate revelation of these people and forces that have plundered. I believe that today, by taking on the political responsibility of the country, the 'Civil Contract' must reveal all these robbers—regardless of whether these forces have spoken about national ideology or claimed that national ideology is a false philosophical category,” he added.

When asked whether the ARF is concerned since it was once part of the government, he emphasized, “Forming a coalition and robbing the army are two different things. The ARF has never been responsible for the army; on the contrary, it has always directed all its resources to strengthen the army. Thousands of ARF members fought in Artsakh at the border, starting in 1990-91 when everyone was afraid, up to the April War. Recently, a donation of $150,000 was sent to the army from Canada. If there are people who have robbed, it is the responsibility of the authorities to uncover, legally assess, and punish them. We are also interested in this being revealed.”

According to the ARF member, Nikol Pashinyan made a responsible statement when he noted that beating an HHK member might have been an order. “Party instructions are given by the ARF Supreme Body; naturally, the Supreme Body has not given any order, so to accuse the organization of being organized is a responsible statement. But at the same time, we must address not only the consequences but also the causes of this violence. For a year now, hate speech has been preached in Armenia. The hate speech that has been present on social networks, in public spaces by those holding high office, must erupt somewhere. It is unacceptable to incite brothers against brothers, friends against friends, distinguish between revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries, the black and the white, and now even among those dressed in black. The solidarity of society is now under threat.”

In response to the observation that the Prime Minister has pointed to black-clad groups trying to preach violence and destabilize the situation, Arthur Khachatryan replied, “If there are black-clad groups gathering in the country to incite destabilization, they should be arrested, tried, and shown as these black-clad individuals. If there are traitors in Artsakh, they should be arrested and tried; if there are black-clad traitors, they should be arrested and tried, not just announced.”

Details can be found on the original source.