Failed and Dastardly Attempt to Shadow the Movement: Vazgen Manukyan

Vazgen Manukyan, co-founder of the 'Arar' Foundation and member of the 'United' movement council, shared his views with Independent regarding the arrest of Avetik Chalabyan.

“This is an absolute fabrication. It is clear that the authorities lack political arguments to contend with the movement and are resorting to their standard, pathetic route of accusing their opponents of distributing money, looting, and so on — in other words, their usual rhetoric. In Avetik Chalabyan's case, the accusation is so absurd that it is even impossible to imagine such a thing. I have known Avik since childhood. His family, his parents are highly intellectual individuals — physicists, doctors, patriots who have fought for the interests of Armenia and the Armenian people since the Soviet era. Avetik was recognized as a 'prodigy' since school; later, he was an outstanding student, graduated with honors from university, and worked for a long time at one of the world’s most prestigious consulting firms, McKinsey, where he held a high position and researched various global economic programs.

He has always had great national projects and ideas related to Armenia. The 'Arar' Foundation, where Avetik is also a co-founder, has implemented serious projects, especially related to the army and repatriation, with the aim of developing and strengthening Armenia. Avetik Chalabyan has also always fought against corruption, the distribution of money during elections, and similar phenomena. To involve a man holding such values in this fabricated story of money distribution, attempting to cast a shadow on the movement, is simply an unsuccessful and dastardly attempt.

It appears that the authorities are in considerable distress and are grabbing at straws. This is evidenced by the recent arrests, imprisonments, and intimidations taking place among the opposition. But no matter how much the authorities try to discredit the movement through fraud, blackmail, and manipulation, they still cannot stop the thousands of patriotic and honest young people who are fighting for the future of Armenia and Artsakh.”