I Haven't Knocked on Doors or Asked My People to Vote for My Son

In response to the statement made today by the MP from the ruling party, Vahagn Aleksanyan, who claimed that I have been knocking on doors and pleading with the people during the Goris municipal elections to vote for my son, I must clarify:

I did not want to speak on this matter, but due to the imperatives of the moment, I feel compelled to do so. The entire electoral process took place under absolutely unequal competitive conditions. First, during the whole electoral period, my son was unlawfully kept in detention without any substantial grounds to prevent him from participating in the campaign. Second, when they saw the ongoing love and respect of the people for my son, despite his incarceration, they began spreading dozens of myths claiming that even if Arush wins, he will not be released and the community will suffer serious damages. Third, throughout the campaign, using all propaganda resources and leverage, they attempted to lower my son’s credibility and reputation. Fourth, on election day, October 17, they came and disrupted the operations of the headquarters for four hours until the end of the voting, with again false accusations and searches, claiming that I was distributing bribes to the people and directing them to vote for my son.

In contrast, the ruling party utilized all administrative resources during the entire campaign and employed all possible and impossible means to turn the tide of victory in their favor. On the eve of the elections, they announced about one billion drams being allocated to the Syunik region, and on election day, Goris was filled with red, black, and colorful berets coming from Yerevan. I DO NOT KNOCK ON DOORS OR ASK MY PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR MY SON. The people are wise and with their judgment voted for the worthy one. Once again, I thank my people for their reasonable and just choice.

My son did not even need any campaigning or advertising because his work and the love and respect he has for the people spoke for him. We did not conceal or, as Mr. Aleksanyan of the ruling party suggests, distance ourselves from the “Armenia” alliance. My son has been and continues to be a member of the “Armenia” alliance, but for the municipal elections, he presented himself with the coalition named “Arush Arushanyan” to reaffirm that what matters is not the party, but the work done and the efforts made, which the people have once again reaffirmed with their vote.

It is hard to lose to a candidate in detention, but if you have lost, accept the defeat with dignity. And finally, I want to address my beloved Kapan residents: Dear Kapan residents, I urge you to secure the victory of the “Shant” coalition led by Gevorg Parsyan with your vote of confidence in the Kapan municipal elections, thus proving that Syunik rejects any retreat and cooperation with the Turks, confirming that the integrity of the homeland and the dignity of the Armenian is of paramount importance to the people of Syunik.