Who Was the Prime Minister’s Statement Addressed To?

The newspaper "Zhoghovourd" reports that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has responded firmly to the violence directed against opposition activist Vardan Harutyunyan by members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, following their "I Did It" action. Pashinyan stated, "There is a resolution that allows for beating someone for national values. These are the forces that have stolen the country for 25-30 years while saying nothing about national values during the theft."

Prime Minister Pashinyan also emphasized, "If it is an organized action, its legal assessment should change. And all those who promote violence will be held accountable; let no one confuse our civility with weakness."

However, the ARF members insist that those words were not addressed to them. ARF Supreme Body representative Ishkhan Saghatelyan told the newspaper that he saw no direct words aimed at the ARF in the Prime Minister's statements, calling them just unfounded accusations.

"If it is directed at the ARF, let them say it clearly, and we will talk about it. 25 years ago, the ARF was in prisons, and 30 years ago it was defending the borders of Artsakh," Saghatelyan stated to "Zhoghovourd."

It is noteworthy that in January of this year, Prime Minister Pashinyan expressed a willingness to cooperate with this party on behalf of the ruling majority during an address to the ARF General Assembly. However, that call seems to have been rejected, and moreover, their relations are becoming increasingly strained. It is no coincidence that the ARF members regularly criticize the authorities quite harshly, not forgetting to imply certain threats in the margins.

For more details, see today’s edition of the newspaper.