Despite our shortcomings after independence, we also celebrated glorious victories - Armenian opposition leader

Despite the numerous shortcomings after independence, Armenia also saw landmark victories and glory over the past three decades, the opposition’s united prime ministerial nominee said today, condemning the current government for the crucial defeat in the second Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) war.

“There were many shortcomings in the country, but we also had victories. As many as 5,000 peoples on the face of the earth want to have independence, but there are only 200 independent states, and we are one of them.

“We managed to build an army that proved the most efficient in the Transcaucasus. We were able to recapture the part of our fatherland which is called Artsakh, but after the 44 days of war, I have no answer to our citizens. What happened in the period of those 44 days was not a war? the leader of the Homeland Salvation Movement, Vazgen Manukyan, told a crowd of supporters at an opposition rally in Sevan (Gegharkunik region).

He also criticized the government move to head towards snap elections later this year. “This government must not change through snap elections; the people themselves have to oust them. I do not approve of the election plan as it may imply only a poor government. We can certainly change it, but that would amount to a treachery, whereas we are required to show our generations that we never tolerate a treacherous conduct,” the politician stated.