Famous General Issues Retreat Order Instead of Assisting Soldiers; Parents Hold Sit-in

Relatives of missing servicemen are staging a sit-in near a military unit in Ejmiadzin. According to the mother of one soldier, no one has contacted them since January 3. "We went to the colonel's residence hoping he would see us, but he refused to meet with us. He came out to the yard under the influence of alcohol and started talking nonsense. Later, the men sobered him up, and he said he would meet with the Chief of General Staff and then call us to the military unit to tell us when they would enter that area. The next day it was already late. We came here, and they didn’t even let us inside, nor are they allowing us in today. The doors are closed in front of us. No one has any answers, and no one is saying anything. We don’t even expect anyone to have anything to say. They will come again and lie. We have decided to hold a sit-in, and we will bring tents in the evening. We are not going anywhere. Let them bring our children and deliver them to us," she said.
The woman stated that they have received no information for 81 days. "They lie to us every day. We see no hope, they are doing nothing encouraging. If they came and told the parents that this is who they are contacting... Can you imagine, Commander Arsen Abgarya tells me to contact the general in Stepanakert? So, I should speak on their behalf?"
Regarding the meeting with Deputy Chief of General Staff General Andranik Makaryan, he stated that there was an error. "I said that anyone can make a mistake, but not a lieutenant general. On the same day he should have assisted the boys, he issued a retreat order. That recording is with the relevant authorities. When asked why he didn’t provide assistance, he said, ‘If I had gone, I would have died; now who would take responsibility?' In other words, his life is sweet, while they have no regard for our children's lives. We will hold them accountable; we have complained to the necessary channels."