David Tonoyan Issues Statement

Former Minister of Defense of Armenia, David Tonoyan, has issued a statement.

“I was informed that Gagik Melkonyan, a member of the ‘Civil Contract’ faction, spoke regarding the proposed changes to the law on ‘Defense,’ stating that the Minister of Defense should necessarily be a member of Nikol Pashinyan’s team and literally said: ‘The main problem during the war, which we lost, was that they were not from his team, and we know how the escapes were organized.’

On this occasion, I would like to make a few clarifications:

1. The fact that Gagik Melkonyan held senior positions in the Ministry of Defense in the past does not in any way mean that he has the necessary professional qualifications to draw conclusions about the organization of the defense sector based on the outcome of the war.
2. I am proud that while being a member of the Government, I was not part of a ‘team’ of which Melkonyan is a member.
3. In April 2022, I provided a comprehensive answer to the question of why I did not consider myself a member of the ‘political team’ and what led to my decision to take on the role of Minister of Defense.
4. Gagik Melkonyan’s statements only confirm my suspicions about the true objectives of the National Assembly ‘Inquiry Commission.’
5. In my deep conviction, the Minister of Defense, being a member of the Government and taking political responsibility for the implementation of the Government's programs in the defense sector, should nevertheless be outside the logic of ‘political-party teams.’

Regarding the project of the law on amendments and additions to the RA law on ‘Defense’ sent by the Government to the National Assembly, I will express my professional opinion on this later, in the near future,” the statement reads.