Missing soldiers’ families block Yerevan avenue

PanARMENIAN.Net - Relatives of missing soldiers temporarily blocked Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan in protest, demanding a joint discussion with National Assembly deputies on a report concerning the consequences of the 44-day war. However, only opposition lawmakers went to meet them, Aysor.am reported.

Artavazd Khachatryan, the father of fallen serviceman Harutyun Khachatryan, who was killed in the 44-day war, arrived from Goris to take part in the protest by bereaved parents. They are demanding hearings in the National Assembly’s main hall on the report addressing the war’s aftermath.

“I was not sure we wouldn’t be deceived again, as has happened over these six years. Once again, I am convinced that we have been deceived by the current authorities,” Khachatryan said, according to Panorama.am.

He urged people “not to believe the peace agenda of the current authorities.”

“These authorities have not brought peace; this is merely a temporary ceasefire, because so many promises have been made to Erdogan and Aliyev that if they are not fulfilled, there will certainly be war. Do not believe the current authorities,” Khachatryan said.

Taguhi Tovmasyan, an MP from the “I Have Honor” faction, stated that they had appealed to various officials to participate in the hearings and ensure proper conditions, but were refused.

“It turns out that over these six years, whenever officials spoke with parents, they insisted on closed-door formats. When parents demanded a public, open discussion broadcast live, where officials would answer questions about why the circumstances of the war are being concealed and under what conditions their children were killed or went missing, evasive responses began.

What is happening today, and what will happen, is primarily the responsibility of Alen Simonyan and the National Assembly staff, who did not see fit to accommodate the parents by providing the hall they requested,” Tovmasyan said.

The MP added that although she officially requested a suitable hall, only a smaller room was offered, which cannot accommodate all participants.

“They have provided room 334, where it is physically impossible for all the parents to fit. This is also a matter of dignity: if you represent a list of 190 people and are given a hall for 50–60, how can we fit? Essentially, there is a political decision that no one should participate in such hearings, as they are not ready for open discussions,” she said.

Parliament rejected the request to hold hearings in the main assembly hall and offered a smaller room. No official explanation was provided, while the parents insist on a larger venue, as 181 people plan to attend.