Pashinyan Proposes Formation of Joint Alternative Investigative Group to Mournful Mothers

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with the parents of fallen servicemen. During the meeting, he congratulated the grieving mothers on the occasion of March 8, emphasizing that the primary goal of the gathering was not to mark their celebration.

“The significance of today’s meeting is also intended to utilize this moment for our conversation. I want to state that the subject of our discussion will not be the progress of criminal cases, the circumstances, and the details of the investigation, but rather our discussion will be much broader. First, I want to express how I feel about the fact that often, with a certain regularity, you are forced to organize actions in front of the government or various state agencies. I do not know how it appears from the outside, but for me, it is a great pain each time, and I believe it is also a significant pain for the Republic of Armenia and our people.

But there is a global question here: how will all of this end? Because there is a very clear issue at hand; we need a resolution, because this pain is not just yours—it is also the pain of our people. We need to understand that we must find a solution; I consider this to be our common issue, meaning the issue of our people, because people naturally wonder what this story is and when this story will come to an end.

This is a problem for our state, armed forces, law enforcement system, and government, and therefore, today I have invited you to propose solutions, because during our first meeting, we agreed on some formula for a solution, but as far as we understand, that formula is not working, and we need to find a new one.

But I want to set one preliminary agreement: we must all agree on one circumstance, without exception—we must accept the truth, regardless of what that truth is, regardless of how acceptable or unacceptable it is to each of us, how much we want to reconcile with it. But in the end, we all must face that truth.

Today, I consider the following issue: as a result of all this, you must cease your actions, not just to cease them, but because we need to agree on ways to reach the truth. If, of course, we do not reach an agreement, you will naturally continue,” said the Prime Minister.

The government leader suggested that the parents form a joint alternative investigative group consisting of three lawyers whom they trust. Nikol Pashinyan noted that his three proposed lawyers would also be included in the investigative group, whose candidacies should also receive the approval of the parents. The Prime Minister added that all expenses for the lawyers would be covered by the government, and the parents would decide the principles of investigating the criminal cases in agreement with the investigative group, guided by either alphabetical order or limitation periods. It was also emphasized that the members of the investigative group should not have had any prior connection to the relevant criminal cases.

A discussion developed around the Prime Minister's proposal, and Nikol Pashinyan heard the questions and suggestions from the parents. As a result, the aforementioned proposal was approved, and it was agreed that the parents would submit their proposed lawyers in writing by April 10. Nikol Pashinyan also proposed to meet again before April 10 to continue discussions in a working order.