“Who is he calling a coward?” Relatives of prisoners and missing persons protest in front of the Government

Alen Simonian stated today that we do not have any prisoners. “My child has been missing for two months; we have gathered to raise our voice in protest and say that this is unacceptable.” This was stated by Arsen Ghukasian, a relative of a missing soldier, who is one of the organizers of the protest rally held in front of the Government, while talking to journalists about the statements made by the President of the National Assembly, Alen Simonian, regarding prisoners.

“Who is he calling a coward, my child? My child fought until his last bullet, and it is unknown where he is. My child has done so much that they all could gather and not accomplish. Let them ask his comrades what sacrifices my child has made,” he said.

The parents of missing and captured soldiers brought photos of the soldiers with them and were planning to post them on the Government building, an action that the police intervened to prevent.

“Whoever makes it so that I have no news of my child is a national disgrace. All of your children are at home, sitting comfortably; let’s see what you would do if just one of your children doesn’t come home for a month. I have not had news of my child for two months. They should go and investigate, understand whether he surrendered or left his weapon willingly, no question there, but bring him back. But if it turns out that this soldier did not surrender, but was set up so that they could do their dirty work, what then? Let it be clear that my child made a mistake and betrayed the homeland; they should be judged in the strictest way, but not that they take him for two months and at the end say we have no prisoners, that 300 people were like needles, lost. The country is being ruined, and everyone is just looking at each other,” Arsen Ghukasian said.

He noted that at this moment, parents of missing persons and prisoners are arriving in Yerevan from the regions to participate in the protest organized in front of the Government.

It is worth mentioning that a video circulated on the internet today where Alen Simonian, regarding the question of prisoners, stated that an investigation should be conducted against all prisoners, and they should be held criminally accountable.