Look at the Army: Everyone Wears What They Want, General Stands Next to Prime Minister Without a Hat - Ohanyan

The army can be rapidly restored today; I have commanded this army and know what discipline means. This was stated by Seyran Ohanyan, the leader of the ‘Hayastan’ faction, during a meeting with residents on a visit to the Tavush region.

“Just take a look at the appearance of the army; everyone wears whatever they want. The minister wears one thing, the deputy wears another. During various events, the Chief of Staff wears a hat, while the other service heads do not. Generals stand next to the Prime Minister without hats. The Deputy Minister of Police has his hands in his pockets and is strolling around without a hat. I tell him, ‘Mr. Colonel, why aren’t you wearing your hat?’ He says the minister has allowed the members of the collegium not to wear hats. Imagine if I, in the army, allowed generals not to wear hats, but I forced the soldiers to. If the Prime Minister understood, he would lean over and say, ‘Mr. General, pull your head in, or go put on your hat and don’t trample the dignity of the state.’” said Ohanyan.

He assured that the army was capable of fighting during the war. “They were unable to organize; I saw it on the ground, it happened in 280 km, and it was 25 km. The rest held their positions. Now the commanders in Kelbajar, Martakert, or Askeran are not to blame for retreating in Hadrut, but neither are those in Hadrut to blame because the enemy concentrated its main forces there. The person to blame is not the frontline commander, but the one who should look from behind and see where the ‘meshok’ is torn and seal that place. That is what the leadership of the state should do. Calls were made in the example of Vazgen Sargsyan, when he called out and the suicide bombers gathered; who are you, what value do you have compared to Vazgen Sargsyan, that your call would also rally them?” noted Seyran Ohanyan.