Samvel Karapetyan's Address to the People

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has nothing to do in Armenia. This was stated by businessman Samvel Karapetyan in his message from the National Security Service isolation cell. His address was read by lawyer Aram Vardevanyan near the NSS building.

“Dear compatriots, the past few days have been, without exaggeration, some of the most important days of my life. Although I have been under illegal detention, I have never experienced isolation or loneliness for even a moment. The love and respect I have felt from thousands of our compatriots through accessible media, as well as the sincere offers of various forms of support I have received through communication, not only from my friends and acquaintances but also from thousands of strangers, can bring happiness to any person. The walls and bars of the isolation cell are absolutely no burden when your work and life are so valued by the people,” Karapetyan stated in his message.

“Thank you, dear compatriots, for being here and for being who you are. But your attitude, as inspiring as it is, also obligates us. For me, it at least means two things. First, the vast majority of our compatriots agree with me and find that a small group, long denying our history and traditions, cannot trample our identity in pursuit of narrow interests. They have no right to attack our Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. We will not allow this in our way. Secondly, our people, through their attitude, show that it is not I who am isolated but the current authorities, who are distant from the Armenian people and from Armenia, isolated from our historical values. We must together not only acknowledge this reality but also politically and civilly make it visible to all.

Nikol Pashinyan and his government have nothing to do in Armenia and should have no connection to the future of the Armenian people. I am ready to embark on the path of struggle for our country and our native land, which no one else will beautify or protect for us. It is time to unite around a fundamentally new force, to become one united fist.

Armenia must become a prosperous and modern country, just and safe, a state of internal harmony and unity, protecting all the rights of the people of Artsakh, genuinely sovereign and a reliable ally, a country restoring dignity, leaving behind the division of black and white, the artificial fragmentation within the nation, the devastation of relations with the diaspora, the uncertainty of our children’s and youth's fate, repressions and injustices, as well as poverty and hopelessness. I know how to do all this. And we will do it together.

We should show the whole world that this is the worthy way for Armenians. Together, towards a new and better era of our history,” Karapetyan concluded his address.