Former NSS Reserve Colonels and Generals Issue Statement

Former high-ranking officials of the National Security Service have issued a statement saying that:

“The events unfolding after the signing of the tripartite agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia on November 10 this year indicate that the situation is escalating rather than stabilizing and resolving. External and internal security threats directed against the Republic of Armenia are becoming evident and intense. The moral-psychological state within the armed forces, combat readiness, the processes of demarcation and defense along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and sporadic clashes with the enemy in the Republic of Artsakh, along with incompetence and disorganization in crucial fields of government, attempts to repress individuals with opposition views, the political strategy of ignoring and silencing their real concerns, the fact that the national security system is being pulled into internal political clarifications, passive and ineffective actions in the field of foreign diplomacy, the complete absence of initiative, taking on merely a reactive role rather than influencing events, and leaving the resolution of war consequences solely to Russian leadership indicate that as a result of the created situation, the entire state security system has become vulnerable and endangered.

It does not even take into account the fact that aggressive statements by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkey could become a reality, resulting in military actions taking place on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, leading to catastrophic consequences throughout the region.

At the same time, the media regularly disseminates critically important information directly related to the outbreak of war and the real causes of our territorial and human losses as a result, yet the authors of such publications or those directly related to them shy away from providing the public with comprehensive and substantial clarifications, leaving many questions unanswered.

In particular, concerning information regarding negotiations for the handover of Artsakh territories in exchange for billions of dollars between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia that has surfaced through the connection between them is alarming.

In this created situation, we, the undersigned, call for the stabilization of the situation in the country:

• Not to involve law enforcement agencies in internal political intrigues, turning them into tools for repression.
• To emerge from the state of shock, demonstrate professionalism, and solve the aforementioned issues in the armed forces and governance with concrete actions.
• To thoroughly investigate the information regarding the connection between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia and the possible transaction between them in transparent and accessible ways within a short period.
• To work towards a change of power in the short term to eliminate public polarization and form national unity.

If the authorities of the Republic of Armenia disregard this call, we will form a fact-finding group involving experienced investigators, prosecutors, operational staff, lawyers, and other interested parties, and all possible means will be used to investigate information about a possible treasonous deal against Armenia and Artsakh and the deliberate loss in the war that resulted from it.

Additionally, we will appeal to the NSS of the Republic of Armenia and our other partners in the law enforcement system to determine the advisability of continuing to perform their official duties in the existing situation.

This statement is open, and current and former employees of law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Defense, and border troops can join it.

Signed by:

• Former Reserve Colonel Mikayel Hambartsumyan – Former Chief of NSS
• Former Reserve Lieutenant General Hrant Yepiskopyan – Former First Deputy Chief of NSS
• Former Reserve Lieutenant General Vrej Arzumanyan – Former Deputy Chief of NSS
• Former Reserve Major General Garegin Mkhitaryan – Former Deputy Chief of NSS
• Former Reserve Major General Zaven Nanyan – Former NSS
• Former Reserve Colonel Grigor Antoniya – Former NSS
• Former Reserve Colonel Eduard Ghumashyan – Former NSS
• Former Reserve Colonel Artom Grigoryan – Former NSS
• Former Reserve Colonel Arthur Khachaturyan – Former NSS
• Former Reserve Colonel Vardan Galstyan – Former NSS
• Former Reserve Colonel Karen Hakobyan – Former NSS
• Former Reserve Colonel Samvel Baghdasaryan – Former NSS
• Former Reserve Colonel Samvel Sargsyan – Former NSS