They Cannot Convince Me That Manvel Grigoryan Is a "Tushonka Eater," Especially Not a Soldier: Sargsyan

The third president of Armenia and chairman of the Republican Party, Serzh Sargsyan, does not believe that anyone from the Republican Party has become a victim of anyone else.

“No, all the repressions that have occurred have been a response to our actions, which we have undertaken consciously. We have never envisioned ourselves as victims, nor will we ever,” he stated during a meeting with students and faculty at the Armenian University, discussing the events surrounding General Manvel Grigoryan.

The president noted that Manvel Grigoryan is a national hero and that his contributions are significant. “I have interacted closely with Manvel Grigoryan. I won't say he was ideal in everything, but to undervalue his contributions is simply ungrateful,” emphasized Sargsyan.

The third president mentioned that it was Manvel Grigoryan who requested a vote in favor of the decision to strip him of immunity. “The members of parliament were more inclined to fulfill Manvel's request than to vote against it, because no matter how much pressure there was from the people or the authorities, no one could convince me that Manvel Grigoryan is a ‘tushonka eater,’ especially not a soldier. Manvel Grigoryan had such great authority among the military that, when he arrived in Stepanakert with several thousand Yerkrapah members on the second day of the April War, I was regularly informed that there was a spirit of excitement in the army, spreading the word: ‘Guys, Manvel has arrived’... who could have a greater legacy than that?” stated Serzh Sargsyan.