Seyran Ohanyan on Alen Simonyan's Statement

A secret recording featuring Alen Simonyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, has surfaced online, where he claims that the parents of prisoners of war are aware that their sons have committed desertion.

Seyran Ohanyan, the head of the Armenia faction in the National Assembly, considers Simonyan's comments regarding the prisoners a "morally devoid statement and assessment." Ohanyan made this remark during a press briefing with reporters at the National Assembly.

"I would advise our relevant authorities and leadership to review the military regulations. Additionally, there is also the concept of the 'Law on Armed Conflicts,' which pertains to humanitarian rights concerning individuals who have been captured or whose fate remains unknown," Ohanyan stated.

He emphasized that every word and expression in this context must be approached with great caution. At the same time, the opposition faction leader does not deny that the circumstances of the captivity also require investigation.

"Each case, be it a combat operation, a major action, or an incident of captivity, should be subjected to inquiry to determine how it occurred. There are also criminal cases being initiated, especially given the existence of aggression by the adversary against both peaceful civilians and soldiers. The investigation should clarify what actions each individual has taken," he stated.

It is worth noting that today, December 7, a secret recording featuring Alen Simonyan has appeared online, in which the Speaker of the National Assembly claims that the parents of prisoners know that their sons have committed desertion. Later, Alen Simonyan responded by saying that the video has been edited and that his remarks have been presented out of context. Nonetheless, he reaffirmed that all servicemen who have laid down their arms and surrendered will face criminal prosecution.