Arthur Danielyan, founder of the “Adekvad” movement, stated on Facebook that natives of Shirak were the second most involved in the fighting for Artsakh, following the people of Artsakh themselves. He called on Armenians to avoid mutual hostility and instead focus their anger on those who divide the nation.

“People from Artsakh sacrificed five times more lives for Artsakh than those from Armenia. That’s a statistical fact. But it’s also a fact that the second-largest number of fighters and those who gave their lives were from Shirak, starting from the first war. I want everyone to know this, especially the people of Artsakh,” he wrote.

He added that “simplistic thoughts” should not fuel internal hatred among Armenians.

“I will never forget these facts. I hope the people of Artsakh won’t either. Don’t hate each other—hate those who divide us,” Danielyan concluded.

During a debate among Gyumri mayoral candidates, Ruben Mkhitaryan of the “My Powerful Community” party accused the ruling Civil Contract party’s candidate Sarik Minasyan of mishandling the Artsakh issue. In response, Minasyan claimed: “Artsakh was in such bad shape that Gyumri residents would scrape together money so their kids wouldn’t serve there.”