‘Five of Those Who Have Ever Led the Armenian Army Are Accused’: Norair Norikyan

Norair Norikyan, leader of the ‘Just Armenia’ party, writes:

“The ministers of defense of Armenia: a shameful and tragic statistic. Here is where and why we have failed… During the history of the Third Republic, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia has been led by 10 individuals at different times, each of whom has had a unique odyssey in their life.

1. The first Minister of Defense, Vazgen Sargsyan, was killed during the terrorist attack on October 27, 1999.

2. Acting Minister of Defense Norat Ter-Grigoryants left Armenia after his dismissal, is a citizen of the Russian Federation, and resides permanently in the Russian Federation.

3. Minister of Defense Vazgen Manukyan is currently an accused and is charged with making public calls aimed at seizing power and violently overthrowing the constitutional order.

4. Minister of Defense Serzh Sargsyan is currently an accused and is charged with organizing the appropriation of a particularly large sum of 489,160,310 AMD by a group of officials through misappropriation.

5. Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan is currently the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to the Russian Federation.

6. Minister of Defense Mikael Harutyunyan was accused in connection with the March 1 case, is a citizen of the Russian Federation, and resides in the Russian Federation.

7. Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan is currently an accused and is charged with carrying out several alleged offenses prohibited by the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.

8. Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan is currently an accused, charged with exceeding his official powers, is wanted and resides in the USA.

9. Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan is currently an accused, charged with committing particularly large-scale embezzlement, and is in custody.

10. Minister of Defense Arshak Karapetyan left Armenia after his dismissal, according to reports, and resides permanently in the Russian Federation.

What fate awaits the current minister Suren Papikyan, time will tell, but the aforementioned is a sad and tragic statistic: one person who has led the Armenian army was killed, five reside in Russia and the USA (one due to work, and five are accused). This statistic speaks to our perception of state-building and nation-building, the character and mission of a public figure. I am increasingly convinced that it is essential to halt the catastrophe of universal moral decay. And to get back on our feet, we must dare to do so.”