Our Statehood Is a Victim of an Agreement with the Enemy: Hovhikyan

A group of public figures in Armenia has established a liberation movement in response to the current security situation in the country. In an interview with Factinfo, media expert and one of the movement's initiators Nairi Hovhikian stated that various public and political figures, cultural actors, doctors, and specialists have united under a single idea within their movement.

The initiators of the liberation movement also include former MP Sophia Hovsepyan and lawyer Ara Zohrapyan. “A number of members from the 5165 movement are included. There are also members from various political parties who have come not as a party but as citizens,” he said.

Today, the liberation movement blocked five main streets in Yerevan for 44 minutes: Baghramyan Avenue, Myasnikyan Avenue, Arshakunyan Avenue, the Victory Bridge, and Tigran the Great Avenue. “We attempted to draw attention to several issues by blocking the main streets of Yerevan. Our statehood is practically being sacrificed to the enemy as a result of negotiations, but we will not allow it; the entire nation must oppose it,” Hovhikian stated.

According to Nairi Hovhikian, they have put forward three main demands: to stop the signing of the delimitation and demarcation documents, which he called “anti-Armenian and a cross on our statehood and security”; to not allow the enemy to have a corridor through Syunik; and to properly equip the army. “Even though we are told there won’t be a corridor, it will be a road, but in reality, it will be a corridor. The road you give to the enemy will be controlled by soldiers from another country, whether Russian or other military personnel, which is already dangerous. For example, Azerbaijan insists that Turkish police control this road. This means you are giving a corridor from the sovereign territory of your country to another state. In this case, the security of the entire population below Sisian, their lives, are put at risk. We also demand that the Armenian soldier standing on the front lines be properly equipped,” he added.

Hovhikian remarked that the authorities are trying to clear themselves of any blame for the Armenian soldier ceding positions, saying, “But if the soldier does not have the necessary amount of weapons and logistical support, he cannot fight adequately, no matter how courageous he may be.”

He further emphasized that the public has responded positively to their actions. “I was near the Victory Bridge; even passersby joined us, including cars blocking the road, and people were cheering from buses. There were also those who were delayed from work, shouting and honking from their cars; you can’t expect the same response from the entire public.” Hovhikian assured that their activities will continue. “We are not going home; we will not be limited to just once. This is a civic initiative, and it does not serve the interests of any political party, although various parties and NGOs are involved that have put aside their party flags and united under the flags of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh,” he stated.