You Are in for a Big Disappointment with Yourself: Margarita Yesayan to Pashinyan

Former MP Margarita Yesayan has responded on her Facebook page to some comments made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during an interview with Nouvelle d'Arménie magazine. Here is her full post:

“Regarding Nikol's interview with Nouvelle d'Arménie magazine, I have a few observations to make. Firstly, in response to a question about Artsakh, he states that because the authorities in Artsakh have worked with the previous ones, today there is a constraint, and this will disappear after the 2020 elections. Is this so clear? Well, let me ask you an open question – who told you that the new authorities to be formed in Artsakh will dance to your tune? If you think so, you are mistaken; you do not know the people of Artsakh, yes, you do not know them. And no matter how much money you allocate to Deni, whom you consider a state-level bribe from taxpayer money and send it to Artsakh, neither your plan A nor plan B will succeed for the same reason: the people of Artsakh are very resilient and, unlike you and your satellites, they have had, preserved, valued, and cherished their STATEHOOD and HOMELAND through centuries, living honorably and maintaining their land surrounded by enemies.

Next, you say the economy has become inclusive, and then you explain that now anyone can engage in business. Well, I’ll tell you something simple – ask the Statistical Committee or your government’s ministers to present how many people were engaged in entrepreneurship two years ago and how many are today. I say this confidently – because the numbers are known – if you are objective, you will be in for a big disappointment with yourself; however, on the other hand, you know very well that you were making another bluff in that interview.

Let’s move on. You say that the Armenian economy has recorded more growth in the past year than European countries. Prime Minister, son, Nikol, open your eyes and look at reality objectively – there is no such thing. Don’t manipulate those numbers; don’t make mistakes. Today’s Nikol has no right to be yesterday’s one; now you are a senior state official, not that Nikol who was hopping here and there on the rooftops. Get serious; people are watching you, listening to you, and laughing behind your back. You are the Prime Minister after all; such a pity for the country that you are the PM. Oh, I’m dead, saying that…

Prime Minister, you also know that our newly independent country still has a long way to go to reach Europe, and by the way, will they even read that interview in Europe? Why are you turning yourself into another object of ridicule? Just don’t; simply don’t.

And one more thing – although I constantly say this, it seems it doesn’t reach you: never say the “most democratic revolution in Europe” – please, don’t ever say it, Nikol, that concept doesn’t exist, and you know very well why...

Next, you say jobs exist, but then why are they so deeply hidden? Why are people dissatisfied? Why don’t you talk about the widespread layoffs? Why don’t you speak about the fact that even working people are dissatisfied because there is widespread uncertainty in all state structures? People do not understand why the purpose of merging certain ministries was not clear to you; even you could not figure it out! Just take a good look at the face of the head of the super ministry... There is widespread uncertainty within the ranks of the state apparatus; employees are afraid to speak out because there are ‘deal makers’ everywhere. Every complainer is removed from their job...

Please, I don’t want to continue, because while I want to express my observations in wonderful literary Armenian, I inadvertently want to switch to tough, jargon language, as it does not work to present all my observations in literary Armenian. I am sure you understand what I mean; you are not weak in language either…”