«The Board Today Also Includes Armenia»: Nairi Hohikyan

Member of the "Liberation Movement" initiative group Nairi Hohikyan wrote on his Facebook page: "In Armenia, political viewpoints are polarized at two extremes – either extremely positive or extremely negative. According to the authorities and their satellites, under Nikol Pashinyan's terrifying gaze, we are living in paradise; Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are horrified of us, which is why they are daily taking new territories or receiving gifts, and this is why every week one Armenian soldier is killed.

According to the radical opposition, Armenia no longer has a statehood, and we are now part of Turkey or Russia; we just haven't been officially informed about it.

For the sake of fairness, I should say that in both cases, the political commentators are usually not qualified political scientists; they are supporters of one party or another or of the authorities, individuals who have read a few books but have influence. I am talking about political scientists.

Armenia is experiencing one of the most tragic chapters in its history, but all is not lost. Currently, Armenia is also placed on the chessboard of the major players in the world, as our country is of immense significance due to its geographical location and mineral resources. During the rule of the RPA, our country somewhat benefited from this opportunity, but the resources primarily went into the pockets of a few oligarchs, which angered the people and compelled major powers to think that Armenia needs a different leader who would agree to build roads while simultaneously solving the conflict that has become a headache for them. For Turkey's benefit.

Nikol Pashinyan's administration exploited this opportunity for personal gain, agreeing to a deal with the enemy and conceding our historical lands in exchange for global road construction and large investments. This was done through a staged war and at the expense of approximately 5,000 Armenian lives. In return, large amounts of money began to flow into Armenia, roads started to be built, most of which will serve global purposes.

Do we have hope for salvation, or is everything already lost? Yes, we have the real opportunity to save Artsakh, to arm it, to restore the army's proper appearance, and to regain much of the lost territories. We also have the capabilities to restore our security systems, combat external agents, address chronic social issues, and regain political stability.

We need stability and national unity. What should the future authorities of Armenia be like to ensure that they not only save the country but also become a regional player and restore some of the losses? The future authorities of Armenia must first and foremost be national and for the nation. National authorities can never prioritize their personal or group interests over state and national interests. We can do it, I am confident. Armenia can still experience happy times of development, but for that, we first need to rid ourselves of the unpatriotic scoundrels."