«I Won't Allow Him to Celebrate in Public»: Narine Grigoryan, Who Lost Two Sons in War

During the government meeting on September 8, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that "under the circumstances, our mood cannot be considered festive, but we have decided that the 30th anniversary of Armenia's independence should be marked appropriately, with a large-scale and colorful celebration on September 21 in Republic Square." Pashinyan emphasized that the celebration is primarily dedicated to the memory of our fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives for Armenia's independence, sovereignty, and security.

Minutes after the announcement, social media users started posting critical remarks, chastising the government over this decision. Relatives of fallen, missing, and captured soldiers made harsh statements. “Government, if you are going to organize a lavish celebration on September 21, and it’s mentioned as a tribute to the victims, then you should know that grieving parents will bring black fireworks and black celebration upon your heads. People should not be treated with such disregard and insult. What does it mean to commemorate the victims...?”

Narine Grigoryan, who lost both of her sons in the recent Artsakh war, expressed her dissatisfaction in an interview with 168.am: “I sent my two sons to the army, one had served for 2 years, the other for 3 years and they were coming home, but both were killed in the war. Now how can Nikol Pashinyan announce that there will be colorful fireworks in the square? I do not accept this and I won't allow him to celebrate in public, and I say the same to Nikol's supporters. On September 27, it will be one year since the children passed away, this whole year we have been crying, living in mourning, and he is organizing colorful fireworks.”

She continued, “Well, I hate him, but even saying this is something else. I cannot stand him, it’s as if he does it intentionally... isn’t it the one-year anniversary of the war on September 27? We buried so many children, what kind of fireworks should they display in public now? All night I was thinking that we should go to Armen Sarkissian and at least persuade him not to allow any celebration on the remains of our children...”

Incidentally, according to press reports, the “celebration” is again being organized by the well-known “Domino Productions” LLC, which has been awarded significant contracts during Nikol Pashinyan’s tenure. Work has begun on the construction of the stage in the square and continues.