Former Defense Minister Ashak Karapetyan Accuses Nikol Pashinyan of Betrayal, Announces Political Engagement

The former head of the Armenian Armed Forces' intelligence, former advisor to the Prime Minister, former first deputy chief of the General Staff, and former deputy minister of defense Ashak Karapetyan announced during a live broadcast on Facebook his intention to engage in political activity and create a new political force.

Karapetyan first addressed the dismissal of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from office, emphasizing that the reason was the refusal to accept Azerbaijan's ultimatum, the command to fire towards the Azerbaijani armed forces in case of border violations, and the decision to go to Artsakh to protect it.

He accused the current authorities of Armenia of surrendering Artsakh due to cowardice and betrayal, leaving the Artsakh Armenians at the mercy of fate, and stressed that the same fate awaits Armenia as well. "In the context of extremely rapidly evolving geopolitical dangers around our country and region, we witnessed the terrible misfortune of Artsakh, which occurred due to the cowardice and betrayal of the Armenian authorities. They left the people of Artsakh to the whims of fate. Betrayal that led to the dissolution of the Artsakh Defense Army," he stated.

Referring to the arrest of former Artsakh Prime Minister Ruben Vardanyan by Baku, Karapetyan declared: "I have credible information that it is the head of the Armenian government who, fearing for his position, has approached Azerbaijan asking them to arrest the honorable Armenian son Ruben Vardanyan and prevent his entry into the territory of Armenia. Our government, composed of a group of amateurs and cowards, talks about independence, security, and a peaceful future, clearly hoping for the mercy of the executioner."

He also reminded the Armenian government that in democratic countries, governments resign for even a single wrong action or expression.

Karapetyan further accused the current authorities of damaging relations with Russia and attempting to sow enmity between the Armenian and Russian peoples, emphasizing that the current situation is being used to promote animosity. Addressing the Russian leadership, Karapetyan urged them to stop Pashinyan's attempts to destroy the statehood of Armenia.

In conclusion, Karapetyan announced his decision to start political activities and form a political movement aimed at liberating Armenia from internal and external enemies. He also added that he plans to create a secure security system for the preservation of Armenia's statehood and the prosperity of the country.