VIDEO: Vagarshak Harutyunyan Ordered to Withdraw from Positions, We Have Retreated 25 km, Former Mayor of Sisian

During Prime Minister Pashinyan's visit to Syunik, a protest began against him. When asked about his participation in the protests, whether he directed the citizens, former Mayor of Sisian and MP from the 'Armenia' faction Arthur Sargsyan responded during a briefing at the National Assembly, "Everyone has seen what participation I had; I have given interviews about it, let's not dwell on that... there was no organized action there; it was spontaneous, and I was there and participated."

Explaining what made him oppose the current authorities, Sargsyan said, "On December 17, Minister of Defense Vagarshak Harutyunyan came to Goris and invited all of us—community leaders—to a meeting. He told us, 'You have until tomorrow at 17:00 to withdraw from all positions.' We became concerned because all high-ranking officials had said, 'Whoever is positioned where must stay there.' Secondly, the November 9 agreement does not say anywhere that we must withdraw. When we asked the Minister about this, he said, 'I am not aware; you all must withdraw by 17:00 tomorrow.' I also asked him a question there, saying, 'Mr. Minister, if you do not know now, maybe you will come back in a month and gather us, telling us that Sisian has also been given to the Turks, and we should go back. These are the problems why we, as community leaders, opposed this government.'