Andranik Tevanian: Ashot Pashinyan Should Withdraw His Application as It Is a Very Bad Move

Ashot Pashinyan should withdraw his application as he is about to make a very bad move if this receives further development. This was stated today, May 18, by Andranik Tevanian, an MP from the Armenia faction, in a conversation with reporters outside the National Security Service (NSS) as he referred to an incident involving Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's son, Ashot Pashinyan, the day before, after which Gayane Martirosyan, the mother of fallen soldier Zhora Martirosyan, was arrested.

“On the other hand, children should not bear the consequences of their parents' actions. Ashot Pashinyan is not to blame for being the son of a failed father. He has a problem related to public perception concerning his parents. On the other hand, I reiterate that the parents of the victims deserve to live with dignity and to hold their heads high; we owe it to them. Therefore, I once again urge Ashot Pashinyan to withdraw his application; it is shameful, and he should not have done such a thing. I urge the police and law enforcement agencies to keep their measures in check and to refrain from engaging in politically directed actions concerning the relatives of the victims,” he said.

Earlier, lawyer Ruben Melikyan reported that parents of soldiers killed in the 44-day war were detained the day before on allegations of an attempted kidnapping of Ashot Pashinyan. They were taken to the Shengavit police department. In turn, the Investigative Committee announced that the notification submitted by Ashot Pashinyan to the Police of the Republic of Armenia has recently been forwarded to the Investigative Committee. Based on this, a criminal case has been initiated within the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Yerevan on significant offenses pursuant to the provisions of Article 191, Part 2, Point 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.

Later it was reported that only Gayane Martirosyan, the mother of the deceased soldier Zhora Martirosyan, had been arrested, while others had been released. By late evening, Ms. Gayane's health had deteriorated, and she was taken to the hospital, but later that night she was returned to the detention center where arrested individuals are held.