“During this time, they were busy with looting, there was no time to dig trenches”: Samvel Babayan

The authorities of Artsakh have decided that state employees must be engaged in public works, such as digging trenches.

Seiran Hayrapetyan, a member of the National Assembly and a teammate of Samvel Babayan, wrote on his Facebook page that the active phase of these works has “incidentally” coincided with the day of the rally organized by Babayan’s supporters on May 15.

In an interview with MediaHub, Samvel Babayan, former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army and former secretary of the Security Council, as well as the president of the ‘United Homeland’ party, stated that this rally is not to the liking of either the Artsakh or Armenian authorities or the opposition.

“During this time, they were busy with looting; there was no time to dig trenches. That’s why they decided that people should leave state institutions and dig trenches so they won’t participate in the rally. The conscious mass that should participate in the rally is smart enough to understand that no restrictions will prevent them. We will hold our rally and achieve the solutions to the issues we are working on,” he said.

When asked who specifically is hindering this—whether it is the president or the prime minister—he replied, “Everyone.”

“It seems that everyone has chosen the same ignorant path. They are ruined individuals who do not understand what they are doing. Everyone knows what will happen if I have leverage at the level of authority; they are avoiding it because they know they will have to answer for what they have done,” Babayan emphasized.

According to Babayan, the rally will definitely take place, and the time and date will not change. “There is no alternative; the public understands this, and we must stand firm for Artsakh,” he stated.

When asked how officials in Artsakh are inclined and whether they are ready to dig trenches, Babayan responded, “I don’t know how everyone is inclined, but I don’t think we should be digging trenches in the 21st century. Those who think that way, I do not consider them military personnel.”