If Authorities Grant Arthur Vanetsyan Any Status to Address Issue of Prisoners and Missing Persons, He Is Prepared to Withdraw from Politics

If the authorities grant me a status, I will engage in the issue of prisoners, which they have failed. The number of prisoners returned has only been due to the efforts of the Russian president, while our authorities have failed in this regard,

Arthur Vanetsyan, former head of the National Security Service (NSS), said in an interview with reporters on Baghramyan Avenue. “I am ready to stop being involved in politics if the authorities give me any status to handle the issues of prisoners and missing persons, but our country's security system is dysfunctional and nothing is being done in this regard — the NSS, the Police, the Army, and all other institutions are currently engaged in one task: maintaining power, and our authorities have failed this issue; they are simply incompetent and cannot resolve it, while the prisoners who have been brought back were due to Russia's efforts,” Vanetsyan stated.

He also commented on the statement that the opposition has hindered the return of prisoners. “Since November 9, 4 months have passed, and during those 4 months, for at least 2 months, the opposition has not engaged in any activities. Why did they take no action during that time? Why now blame the opposition on this issue?” he noted.

He further mentioned that due to Nikol Pashinyan's actions, people in the Diaspora are ashamed of their identity, while Pashinyan maintains power through manipulative tools. “The Armenian people have lost because of this incompetent government, and now people living in the Diaspora are not proud to be Armenian; they do not want to talk about their identity today. Nikol Pashinyan has no support; his only support remains manipulation, he came to power through manipulation and remains in power by the same principle,” he said.

Regarding Pashinyan's rally on February 25, Vanetsyan commented that many attendees were there to avoid losing their positions. “We can divide the people at Nikol Pashinyan's rally into two categories: confused people who still believe in Pashinyan and those who were forced to attend to keep their positions,” Vanetsyan remarked.

In his view, any arrest within the Armed Forces is a realm of fantasy. Concerning the statement that the Armed Forces must carry out orders, he noted this applies to commands given in peacetime, whereas since September 27, the situation in the country has been abnormal. “Who can enter the Armed Forces' headquarters today and carry out an arrest? That is in the realm of fantasy; no forceful actions can be undertaken; such things are impossible. The General Staff of the Armed Forces has always fulfilled its duties, and those in uniform are obliged to follow orders, but orders are executed under normal conditions, and since September 27, Armenia has been in an abnormal state,” he concluded.