I Created the Armed Forces that Liberated Artsakh and Protected the Country, But Now They Have Been Destroyed: Norat Ter-Grigoryants

Who is actually leading Armenia? Is anyone in charge, especially the Ministry of Defense?” expressed Norat Ter-Grigoryants, a General-Lieutenant of the USSR and the RF armed forces, former chief of the General Staff of the RA Ministry of Defense from 1992 to 1995, and acting Minister of Defense in 1993, during an interview with 168.am referring to the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani borders, Armenia's request to the CSTO, and the recent news about six Armenian soldiers being encircled and captured by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Gegharkunik region of the Republic of Armenia.

General Ter-Grigoryants noted, “What has happened to our army? This is outrageous! Why are we allowing Azerbaijanis to enter our territory? This is a violation; the army is responsible for the country’s security. Where is the Ministry of Defense? How are they organizing the defense? How are they maintaining the border? I know what has happened; I am outraged. It is shameful, shameful!”

According to him, such a situation arises because the agreements have been wrong, the organization has been flawed, and the borders have not been clearly defined. Aliyev behaves shamelessly; no one holds him accountable. He should be tried by a military tribunal, but nothing like that will happen. “He acts defiantly, mocks the Armenians, mocks Armenia, yelling ‘Pashinyan!’ like a street thug on TV,” he added.

In Ter-Grigoryants' impression, the Armenian side is not taking any measures; the Armenian soldiers are not fighting; they are standing still while Azerbaijanis have entered and captured our soldier. “How has this happened? What kind of soldiers are they? I created an army, Armed Forces that have won, liberated Artsakh, and protected the country for 30 years, but now they have been destroyed. I don’t know what they have done; criminals have come to power — uncontrollable, disorganized, uncommitted. What is happening? What are you doing? I am outraged,” the general said.

He also expressed surprise as to how the Minister of Defense, the command, and the leadership are organizing the defense and protection. “How is it that a soldier is sitting on a bench, and an Azerbaijani soldier approaches him and says, ‘You are captured’? Is this even possible? Our soldiers are heroes; they have fought heroically. How has this been allowed? There are borders, aren’t there? ‘Barriers’ — who is actually leading Armenia? Is anyone in charge, especially the Ministry of Defense? All generals, officers have been removed from their positions; perhaps there is no one left to lead. Then remove the army if you cannot manage it. That is my opinion,” General Ter-Grigoryants asserted, visibly agitated.

Commenting on the request to the CSTO, the Russian-based Armenian general stated that there are no fools in this matter. “How can you turn to the CSTO if you cannot organize your own border? Do you want someone — the Russians, the Kazakhs, the Turkmen, the Uzbeks — to come and protect your border? There are no fools; it is even shameful. If there were a war, that would be a different matter; they would come and assist, but there is no war here. The armed forces and the minister of defense are responsible for security. Does that person even have an idea of what security means? Does he even manage the armed forces? Is he setting tasks? Does he know where the troops are stationed, where the commanders, division commanders, subunits are located, and what is happening in general? Before this incident, the previous captives have not been returned either; how did those people become captives? They were not given proper orders to return to their starting positions at the right time. Strange things are happening in Armenia,” the general remarked.

He mentioned that his heart simply aches. “Because of these messes, the commander even died; his heart couldn’t take it. I, along with my friends, created the armed forces; we liberated Artsakh, and for 30 years, no one has approached Armenia. Have you noticed, or not? I have created an enclave for Russia within the territory of the Republic of Armenia, stationed the 107th combat division, established a base, since we do not have any other ally besides Russia. Our only ally is Russia,” Norat Ter-Grigoryants expressed his opinion.

He recalled with indignation the protests near the Russian embassy demanding the withdrawal of the Russian base from Armenia. “Meanwhile, ‘Sasna Tsrer’ and other thugs come out against the Russian embassy and say ‘Russians, take your base and go!’ Sold-out idiots for 3 dollars, and the authorities do not hold them accountable. You are turning your back on your only ally, a powerful nuclear power. What is going on? Is Aliyev now shameless? He sees that everyone around is an enemy of the Armenians, and Russia is the only ally. Armenia spits in that direction, and Aliyev comes toward Armenia, which, in turn, cannot defend itself,” he briefly described the geopolitical situation.

And in closing his remarks, he stated, “What kind of people are we? What kind of leaders are coming to power?”