There’s No Money for a Soldier Who Lost His Health, a Person Who Lost His Home, But There’s Money to Set Up a Stage and Pay Artists

Former press secretary of the environment, Davit Grigoryan, wrote on his Facebook page:

“Don’t expect that there will be many boycotters. I say this with pain. On Independence Day, at least 40-60 thousand people will participate in the celebrations voluntarily. According to unconfirmed information, more than 1 billion drams are allocated for the execution of this colorful event. I do not assert that the amount is confirmed, but this is not the first time I’ve heard such a figure, and not from the most uninformed people. Remember. The celebration they have planned will take place. A significant mass will accuse all the protesters that one cannot live in eternal mourning, that we won’t suffer forever, that one must live, children must rejoice, and so on. This is the tragedy. The tragedy within which money is spent for fireworks, but there is no money to equip and strengthen the borders. The tragedy that many soldiers who sacrificed their health do not have funds for treatment, but there is money to pay artists to perform. This is the tragedy that there is no money to build houses for our compatriots who have lost their homes, but there is money to set up a stage costing $50,000 in Republic Square. Do not expect any serious boycott. These people have been elected by over 600,000 citizens; what do you think, will about 60,000 not come to the square that day to have a good time? When you compare these 60,000 to, at best, 60 or even 600 parents of fallen soldiers, what will that 1 percent do to boycott that colorful celebration? Additionally, whether there are or are not, there will be about 6,000 police officers. If nothing else, before the arrival of the loudspeakers, they will forcibly gather everyone and hand out portions. Who needs that world where there is no Armenia? There are three leaders like that on the planet. One is ruling in Yerevan. Fight, do not retreat. Demand, do not concede.”