Praise God That I Am Not Considered a Member of Their Political Team, Arthur Vanetsyan Responds to Government Deputies’ Statements

The Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) charter clearly stipulates that FFA members, including the executive committee, must maintain political neutrality. I have always done everything possible to ensure that this neutrality is preserved. Recent events show that some executive committee members are trying to use the platform for narrow political interests. If they have any issues, for example, with me, they can resolve it through other means. I am ready to meet in any place, in any format, and answer any questions. But football should not be politicized.

This was stated by the former director of the National Security Service (NSS) and the now former president of the FFA, Arthur Vanetsyan, in an interview with 168.am's “Pressing” program. During the extensive interview, Vanetsyan addressed various issues.

Speaking about the accusations against him by government deputies and supporters that he has “wrecked” football, Vanetsyan posed a brief question: “If I were the NSS director, would anyone accuse me of wrecking this so-called football? Of course not.”

Vanetsyan advised against naming culprits and responsible parties. “If the public wants to assign blame or name a guilty person, I will never shy away from responsibility. You can consider that I am the one responsible and guilty,” said the former FFA president.

Referring to the statement by MP Aren Mkrtchyan from the “My Step” faction that Vanetsyan was once the NSS director and has never been a team member, and that making revelations is not a reason for boasting but rather a duty of the NSS director, Vanetsyan said, “I am very happy that Mr. Mkrtchyan finally realizes that the NSS director cannot be a member of any political team by virtue of his office. NSS employees serve the state, not the political powers of the day. The direct obligation of the security service is to ensure the safety of the country and the people.”

Regarding revelations, he emphasized, “Unlike everyone else, I have not boasted about NSS revelations; some people have boasted about this and tried to reap dividends.”

Vanetsyan expressed hope that after understanding that the NSS director cannot be part of a political team, Aren Mkrtchyan would vote against a draft law in the National Assembly that would make the positions of the NSS director and the police chief political. “Because the politicization of these positions is unacceptable, and praise God that they do not consider me a member of their political team,” he stated.

Vanetsyan promised to share in the future how the members of the FFA executive committee were included in the committee. “I am confident that none of them knows from which football club their candidacy was proposed to the executive committee.”