Arthur Grigoryan to Present Document to National Security Service

Former head of the Environmental Inspection, Arthur Grigoryan, has made a Facebook post addressing various issues. He begins by questioning comments made under a previous post: “What basis do they have for our child? I leave all the comments as they are to avoid clouding the impression of their quality. I will respond to the main substantive questions: Against the backdrop of the disgrace regarding Amulsar, today, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that he dismissed me for ‘disgraceful incompetence.’ First of all, since when has the Prime Minister clarified this fact? Perhaps it was when I presented data in the form of a report regarding the clearly shadowy business related to the Sevan whitefish, or was it in his cabinet with the entire government elite present, addressing the inspection results of Amulsar, including the 'butterfly and flower’ aspects?

Throughout my tenure, has anyone heard dissatisfaction from my immediate superior, the Prime Minister, regarding the activities of the inspection? I have not heard it—neither publicly nor internally.

Now, let’s talk about the competence of the government: I already stated that the decision to operate Amulsar had practically been made, and there were demands made for me to revoke the inspection act that had been issued concerning Amulsar. In response, I indicated that there were no grounds to revoke the act and demanded that an official directive be provided if they insisted on it. I emphasize that only the Prime Minister could give a directive to the head of the inspectorate.

Later, they attempted to coordinate the text of the directive with me, to avoid my objection later, even suggesting that I draft it myself. Then they sent me a disgraceful document, which I am placing here as a screenshot. Let legal experts evaluate the ‘competence’ of this text, which was supposed to be given by the Prime Minister to the head of the inspection if they coerced 'agreement' based on it to cancel the inspection act and other attached documents. Since after reading the text, I stated that I would not revoke the inspection act based on this legally disgraceful text, that directive was never issued. This is regarding 'competence.'

By the way, I will present this document tomorrow to the individual in charge at the National Security Service.

Questions had arisen about why I had not spoken earlier about the political decision regarding the operation of the Amulsar mine that had already been made. I addressed this during the first interview I gave to CivilNet after my dismissal. So clear and straightforward was my statement that afterward, the Chief of Staff, Agajanian, specifically emphasized in an interview with Radio Azatutyun that the opinions suggesting that by dismissing me, the government was paving the way for allowing the operation of Amulsar are incorrect. Find the interviews, watch them.

Deputy Prime Minister Avinyan noted that due to the act received from the inspection, Lydian Armenia has filed a lawsuit against the inspection authority. What did you expect? That company sues everyone who says even the slightest negative word against it; did you want it not to contest the decision to halt its activities? And what, does this indicate that the fact of filing a lawsuit itself speaks to the illegality of the inspection act? Are you guided by this logic when they threaten arbitration?

Avinyan also apparently mentioned that instead of focusing on the issue of Sevan and the waters, we have been trailing behind the butterfly.

This is a lengthy answer requiring a separate article to explain.

Lastly, I would like to refer to the statement from the Prosecutor’s Office, which mentioned that today, while providing explanations at the National Security Service, I stated, “I do not possess information regarding any instances of corruption, and the Facebook post I made regarding the situation surrounding the Amulsar mine lacks factual basis.” I do not know what the other interrogated person said and why my presented grounds are reported alongside him in the same line in both the Prime Minister's and Prosecutor’s statements, since I have never seen that person at any environmental initiative.

When providing explanations, I presented very specific factual circumstances that should serve as the basis for a thorough investigation and clarify the possibility of personal interest from various officials in the operation of Amulsar.

Interestingly, did they not expect that when speaking about corruption, evidence like a recording highlighting the act of bribery would be presented? When Pashinyan was a journalist or a member of parliament and talked about corruption instances related to Gagik Khachatryan, did he present evidence with the bribe in hand? Let the investigation proceed, and then it will become clear.

By the way, what about Gagik Khachatryan?

P.S. My wedding is in three days; a friend of mine advised that I write I won’t say anything in the meantime so they don’t catch me and take me away. But we are smiling!