Ter-Petrosyan's Spokesman Responds to Ishkhan Saghatelyan's Statement

Arman Musinyan, the spokesperson for Armenia's first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, has commented on the statement made by Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Supreme Body, regarding Ter-Petrosyan and Nikol Pashinyan. He made a post on his Facebook page.

Saghatelyan stated during a press conference today that Levon Ter-Petrosyan has once again reaffirmed his previous approaches leading the country to capitulation. According to him, the president is trying to distance himself from Nikol Pashinyan, but the ideology and actions they take once again confirm this.

Musinyan reminded Saghatelyan that the Armenian Revolutionary Federation voted unanimously for the decision to make Nikol Pashinyan Prime Minister. “The only exception was Aghvan Vardanian, who was expelled from the ARF for this reason. Levon Ter-Petrosyan was even publicly criticized for not welcoming the ‘revolution.’ The ARF has been part of Nikol Pashinyan's coalition government. Thanks to that agreement, Ishkhan Saghatelyan was appointed governor of his native Gegharkunik province. By being part of the coalition government, the ARF has assumed responsibility for Nikol Pashinyan's policies regarding Artsakh,” Musinyan wrote.

He also emphasized that after leaving the coalition, the ARF has applauded Nikol Pashinyan's policies regarding Artsakh on numerous occasions, experiencing supreme ecstasy from Pashinyan's non-participatory, anti-negotiation, anti-state, and nation-destroying positions.

According to Musinyan, there is currently a sharp phase of intra-factional denials between the ARF and the Civil Contract party, and Ishkhan Saghatelyan is trying to distance himself from their ‘halal.’ “But historian Saghatelyan should know that facts triumph over noise and falsity. No matter how much Ishkhan tries to twist,” he added.

Regarding the stance expressed by President Ter-Petrosyan in the process initiated by the Supreme Patriarch, Musinyan stated that in the most challenging moments for the state, Ter-Petrosyan has always adopted a position that serves the interests of the state, regardless of who benefits from it. “Following Ishkhan Saghatelyan's ‘logic,’ then by the same success, Ter-Petrosyan's spiritual successors should be proclaimed Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sargsyan. It becomes somewhat awkward for Ishkhan Saghatelyan in that case. Also because, in that case, Ishkhan himself turns out to be Ter-Petrosyan's spiritual heir, who still needs to grow, develop, and learn many things. Specifically, to learn that one does not speak of things they do not know, in order not to be disgraced,” Musinyan concluded.