Seyran Ohanian Reveals What Really Happened in Artsakh

The Prime Minister had decided that experienced generals were not allowed to visit the command center, and Araik Harutyunyan personally prohibited me from going there. This was stated by the former Minister of Defense of Armenia, General- Lieutenant, and Hero of Artsakh Seyran Ohanian during the ‘Orakhndir’ program of ArmNews TV.

“General Khachaturov and I went to the Ministry of Defense on the first day of the war; we were not accepted for two days. I decided to go to Artsakh voluntarily to support the Defense Army, I met with Araik Harutyunyan and then went to the command center. On September 30, I insisted that the governments of Armenia and Artsakh should do everything to restore the negotiation process. The Prime Minister decided that experienced generals had no right to visit the command center, and Araik Harutyunyan personally prohibited me from going there,” Ohanian said on air.

According to the former minister, he was prohibited from participating in the planning of military operations and was instead suggested to handle issues related to troop mobilization and territorial defense resources. “I voluntarily supported the formation of the territorial defense forces in Shushi,” said the Hero of Artsakh, adding that on November 5 they were surrounded from three sides, and he acted according to the situation, while the army command made no attempts to contact him.

Responding to reports circulating on social networks during those days suggesting that he had fled during the combat, Ohanian remarked, “Based on my physical condition, I could not flee; let them not exploit this. On the morning of November 6, we left the city because the army leadership decided to move the command center.”

He stated that after consulting with the president of the Republic of Artsakh Araik Harutyunyan, he went to the commander of the Defense Army, stayed at the command center for three days, and tried to offer advice and suggestions regarding combat operations and operational regrouping without interference.

A few days later, it was decided that many experienced military personnel, including Seyran Ohanian, were not allowed to be at the command center. Ohanian noted that when the combat actions approached Shushi, he went to the local command on his own initiative. He denies the claims circulating that he led the combat operations in Shushi, stating he only provided appropriate support and had no command functions.

“Everyone was passing by me in that situation, asking what to do, and I said, 'Leave, go away.' Many said, ‘Mr. Ohanian, let us help you; let’s take you out,’ because I could not do it alone on foot. In the end, the army command decided to move the command center, ensuring its relocation because further missile strikes were to be made near the command center, as it had been revealed,” Ohanian noted.

Regarding the Iskander strike in Shushi, Seyran Ohanian stated that he has no information about it.