Humanitarian Support, But Only One Way Out: Your Resignation - Artak Zakaryan to Pashinyan

Former Deputy Minister of Defense Artak Zakaryan made a post on his Facebook page:

“Dear Prime Minister, dear Nikol, I am sorry to hear that you and your family members have contracted the coronavirus. May God grant you strength to overcome the virus, recover quickly, and be fully healed. At the same time, without any unnecessary pathos, I warmly congratulate you on your birthday. I wish you health, prosperity, peace, and family well-being.

For two years, we, as the opposition, have been politically fighting against you for the current and future of our state. And for these two years, you have unfortunately proven that we are right. Why I say 'unfortunately,' you know well and see everything from the inside. I fully understand your situation and the circumstances surrounding you; in some way, I approach this with understanding. I even support you humanely as a Prime Minister in the midst of complicated and seemingly insurmountable challenges.

But there is only one way out. Resign and allow for the chaotic environment to be restored and the state to return to normal governance. Abandon the false, destructive, and empty slogans that have sown vendettas and intolerance.

You probably do not even realize how much dignity and reputation you have damaged, how many families and friendships you have introduced coldness and conflict into, and how many impeccable people you have unjustly targeted with suspicion... It is bad, very bad.

The only thing you have succeeded in is a change of power, the peacefulness of which has solely been the will of our authorities. Otherwise, you were ready to lead the people to even the worst scenarios for the sake of the work you started.

The peak of public trust and expectations formed by the government change has turned into feelings of hopelessness and despair in two years. Nevertheless, I thank you for one thing, which I will mention when one day we perhaps have the opportunity to meet.

Today, you no longer have development programs, you have no sufficient strategic resources, trustworthy external partnerships, stable economic potential, or internal civic cohesion. Your only political tool remains direct communication with the people, during which it is evident that you have nothing else to say.

This state composed of Armenia and Artsakh is under the world. I kindly ask you not to let it collapse, disintegrate, and morally decay before our eyes.

It is not mandatory to go all the way down an erroneous path; even belatedly, one can stop, turn back, and correct everything. Think about all this.

Again, I congratulate you on your birthday.