Take Your Troops and Leave, Don’t Think About Armenia: Gagik Melkonyan

If someone concedes even 1 meter of the 29,800 square kilometers of the Republic of Armenia, then they are a traitor to the nation. This statement refers to the villages adjacent to Tavush, which have come under our control as a security zone, and now Azerbaijan is demanding their return. Gagik Melkonyan, a member of the National Assembly’s Civil Contract faction, expressed this opinion during a broadcast on 24TV.

Azerbaijan claims, 'I will take back my land.' If Pashinyan states this truth, does that mean it is terrorism? Azerbaijan might initiate local clashes, saying, 'Give me my territories,' but it will not escalate into a full-scale war, as negotiations are underway,” Melkonyan commented.

Regarding the freezing of relations with the CSTO, the MP noted that if that organization does not recognize our borders, there is no point in remaining there. However, the public should decide about the CSTO, so the responsibility does not fall on the government.

When asked if the withdrawal of Russian border guards from the airport might precede the removal of the military base, Melkonyan remarked, “What positive things has the Russian army, stationed in Armenia, accomplished? They fled from Vayk, knowing that an attack was imminent – they abandoned the positions in Vardenis and Teg, and ran away. Take your troops and leave, don’t think about Armenia. We will defend our country; we shouldn’t rely on either Russians or Europeans. We are buying weapons; we will protect our country.”