Consistently, They Have Made Us Believe That Our Army is Just for Stealing the State Budget: Karen Vrtanesyan

Expert Karen Vrtanesyan writes, "Almost no state in the world wants Armenia to have a modern, powerful, and combat-ready army. At this moment, perhaps apart from Iran, no other country is interested in Armenia being able to secure its safety somewhat independently.

That's why, without sparing millions of dollars, we have been made to believe for decades that the First Nagorno-Karabakh War was a disaster, not a victory. That fighting was pointless and that the sacrifices for the liberation of Artsakh were meaningless. They have consistently convinced us, without a moment's pause, that the army is hell and that we do not need an army. They have made us believe that our army is just for stealing from the state budget and that we actually do not have an army. They have persuaded us that generals are merely thieves, and the officers are murderous sadists.

It is hard to believe, but I have been present at a large public event where the organizers were trying to convince that the Azerbaijanis are not our enemies, but the enemy is the Armenian officer because they kill the Armenian soldier.

Since May 8, 2018, the brigade of those who hate the army came to power. Nikol and his hyenas did everything to dismantle the army. I lament that the leadership of the army and the Ministry of Defense (with a few rare exceptions) either overtly supported Nikol throughout this period, or remained silent and pretended they did not see what was happening.

Nikol and the Nikol-Turks did everything to ensure that we would lose the war, that the military would be defeated, and that no one would want to send their son to the army, let alone to a military institution. One can say that they achieved their goal.

I would love to write, 'And despite this, our army exists and will exist,' but I cannot. Unfortunately.

As long as those who justify defeat and protect the traitor remain in their places, as long as there is a spineless nothing in the minister of defense's chair, we have no chances of preserving and, moreover, rapidly strengthening the army. And without an army, we also have no chances of preserving statehood.

But the army is not just made up of those who have dishonored themselves. Tens of thousands of people—from drafted reservists and soldiers to career officers—have fulfilled and continue to fulfill their duty. Tens of thousands of individuals continue to risk their lives, trying to keep something, preserve something, because they hope that the feast of betrayal will not last forever.

We must thank those people. Congratulations on the day of the army that you have preserved, existing because of you. May God protect you."