Accountability for Acquiring SU-30s Lies with Artak Davtyan and Stepan Galstyan: Movses Hakobyan

In an interview with Public TV yesterday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that he had received several documents indicating that the acquisition of SU-30 fighters was not advisable. “I signed these documents, indicating that there is a professional body to discuss this and provide an answer: is it necessary or not? They discussed it and replied in writing that it is necessary. I said, 'If it is necessary, then we will acquire them,'” said Pashinyan.

On this topic, Hraparak.am spoke with Movses Hakobyan, the former Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces General Staff. He confirmed that he was one of those opposed to the purchase of SU-30s. “I was also one of the writers who stated that we do not need it, but the army insisted that they need it, and they have bought it,” Hakobyan noted. He added that he was not aware if the army had requested the acquisition of missiles along with the SU-30s.

When asked why he had expressed written opposition to the purchase of SU-30SMs, Movses Hakobyan responded: “Because my knowledge did not allow me to support it.”

The former Chief of the General Staff also stated that the individuals responsible for acquiring the aircraft are Artak Davtyan and Stepan Galstyan. “They are responsible, while Nikol is responsible for financing it without thorough research,” Hakobyan remarked. In response to the site's observation that this implies Pashinyan purchased them without fully understanding the implications, Hakobyan replied, “In my opinion, that is the case.”