We Are Facing an Even Greater Danger: Police Lieutenant Leaves the System

The senior lieutenant of the Armenian Police, Vanik Paruyryan, has announced his decision to leave the service through a post on his Facebook page. Below is the full text of his statement:

“Dear colleagues, we all, upon joining the Police of the Republic of Armenia, swore to remain faithful to the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia, to unconditionally abide by the laws, to protect our Homeland, and to carry out our entrusted powers fairly and impartially, fulfilling our duties honestly and diligently. We are called to do this.

Many of my fellow servicemen and I have been prepared to sacrifice our lives for our Homeland. Like before, we have tried to fulfill our duties and powers as fairly and impartially as possible, and we will continue to do so, regardless of the circumstances.

However, we are currently facing an even greater danger than during the forced war ignited by Turkish-Azerbaijani terrorist villains, during which we have lost our HEROES, our friends and loved ones endowed with the best human qualities. The present challenge requires each of us to exhibit sober judgment, responsibility, and unity; thus, we must remain vigilant, with a heightened sense of responsibility, to be aware of the tasks presented to us, and to carry them out honorably—after all, the guarantee of our Homeland's safety largely depends on us.

I understand a simple truth: today, our country is divided into two opposing fronts, each confident in its stance and ready to fight for its ideas until the end. This struggle, in my personal opinion, may threaten the internal and external security of the country. Therefore, I call on all my fellow servicemen and all compatriots not to allow the events to develop in a similar manner, and to resolve the existing situation solely in accordance with the Constitution and laws, rather than through anyone’s emotional and reckless decisions.

I do not intend to participate in anyone’s chair wars; rather, my aim is to prevent explosive situations threatening our Homeland’s security, allowing the ARMENIAN to decide its future, rather than a circle of specific individuals.

Of my own accord, I have submitted a letter of resignation, hoping that my words will be heard and understood by all, that we will unite, and that each of us will demonstrate a sense of high responsibility and contribute to building a peaceful and dignified future for our Homeland.”