Gohar Veziryan: 'Aper Had a Different Kind of 'Pazivno' Back Then. They Used to Say, Just Call 'Our Friend'

Journalist Gohar Veziryan wrote on her Facebook page: 'To my familiar and unfamiliar colleagues who are calling or messaging to ask for clarifications regarding today’s publication, in which my name was mentioned by Aper, I have not replied, asking for time to familiarize myself with the publication. I won’t speak individually because everyone’s question is almost the same, my answer is one and still the same:

1. Yes, about a decade ago, when Armenia was still under Serzh Sargsyan's rule, there were political prisoners in Armenia. Nikol Pashinyan was one of them. During the initial stage of Pashinyan's imprisonment, there were constant issues inside the penitentiary that worried his like-minded friends and the HAK leadership. The HAK was commendably vigilant and responsibly alarmed about the situation and was making efforts from outside for the security of their comrades, those fighting for their cause. For days, we journalists were on duty to rush to the penitentiaries exclusively at midnight due to the alerts we received. But it was a different country with different rules of the game. Nikol Pashinyan was specifically targeted with particular brutality. It was then that Aper became necessary for us. Now some have made him a part of the criminal subculture, but at that time, his services were utilized. They did well. We did well, and he did the right thing too. By the way, Aper had a different kind of 'pazivno' back then. They used to say, just call 'our friend.' I would say, have you checked the time? But they would reply that every moment was crucial.

2. In key moments, we turned to 'our friend' for help when Haik Gevorgyan was arrested and no news was coming from him. A direct connection was established. Everyone participated in the phone bridge, and they rejoiced at the operational presence of the 'good friend.'

3. But this is not important at all. Knowing Aper very well, I understand that he hinted at this matter due to a situation involving a child, without any expectations or long-term goals in mind. In these ten years, there have been very difficult situations, but we have neither highlighted nor hidden them. I myself recently mentioned this once in a very important setting because we are tired of the thieving regime, and we do not wish to play 'dictator' anymore.

P.S. Nevertheless, I am convinced that Prime Minister Pashinyan has no connection to the illegal actions of the police.' Earlier, Aram Vardanyan, known by the nickname 'Aper,' told Hraparak.am how, at a time when Nikol Pashinyan was imprisoned, he helped Pashinyan and his family members.

'They made it so that my five-year-old granddaughter has a speaking problem today, and I don't want to evoke pity right now; God is above. And I have found it beneath my dignity to speak about such things, but the fact that they brought my five-year-old granddaughter to such a situation, I must speak now. I must mention that when our beloved Prime Minister was in a tight spot, he also had a five-year-old child at that time. And his family was in a somewhat anxious situation. Through journalists Gohar Veziryan, Shogher Mateosyan, Avetis Babajanian, and former prosecutor Gagik Jhangiryan, they contacted me to ask for help. And at 2 AM, Gohar Veziryan called me, waking me up, even though time didn’t matter; she could have called whenever she wanted. But I managed to create a situation, whether through my advice or other options, so that Nikol Pashinyan’s family had peace that night, and they could sleep soundly. In any case, to the family of a person in distress, I thought I could be of some assistance,' Aram Vardanyan said.

According to him, whoever ordered this now—perhaps exploiting the name of the Prime Minister so that they could storm his home and drive his five-year-old child to the point of illness—while he had previously done the opposite for them, this will return to them like a boomerang.

'You can also ask Haik Gevorgyan, the current MP, who was previously a journalist for Pashinyan's newspaper. Again, through the same individuals—Shogher Mateosyan, Gagik Jhangiryan, etc.—they intermediated for me to help. Haik was facing some issues too, and I was again able to assist him with my advice and other manifestations, and now these people might want to pay back their 'debt' to me in this way. But what I have done in my life, only the universe will return to. I have not awaited compensation from anyone. This is specifically pertinent to the phenomena where those law enforcement officials, who, using the Prime Minister’s name, claim he ordered this event to take place, resort to such actions,' Vardanyan stated.

When asked if he helped Nikol Pashinyan and Haik Gevorgyan while they were in prison or their families outside, Vardanyan replied, 'Both.'

He also mentioned that other current officials were among those whom he had helped when they were imprisoned. If those officials have the courage today, they will confess. 'I have never been afraid that someone knows or becomes upset with me for helping them. I considered them in need, and I helped,' Vardanyan said.