Former defense minister comments on issues raised by ruling party MPs

In 2016, we did not have any problems with intelligence at the strategic-operational-tactical levels, the leader of the Armenia faction, former Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan said today at the briefing with the journalists in the National Assembly. To the observation that the then Commander-in-Chief Serzh Sargsyan spoke about intelligence issues, which was the reason why Arshak Karapetyan was fired as head of the intelligence department, Seyran Ohanyan replied that he had not heard such a statement from Serzh Sargsyan. To the question how he evaluates Arshak Karapetyan’s appointment to the post of Minister of Defense, he answered. “The personnel policy is conducted by the current government. I can’t read their intentions.”

He said it was a lie that Gen. Movses Hakobyan had sold his private house to the army, and then the army gave him the same house as a place of residence.

“First of all, stay away from the army, these are the problems that have brought the commanding staff of the army into a state of psychological depression, and the commander who does not make bold decisions cannot succeed.”

Seyran Ohanyan on Pashinyan’s participation in April 2016 military actions – “The unit headed by Nikol Pashinyan did not take part in specific military operations during the April war. It participated in certain security engineering works, it is not considered a participant in military actions”, Ohanyan said. “Engineering works were carried out, for which the army command gave them a diploma. It is signed by me. I will not take that signature back, will I? ”