Tsarukyan vows to keep serving Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, who was remanded in custody for two months on July 7, has issued a statement from the Yerevan-Kentron Penitentiary.

Tsarukyan described the case against him as "empty" and "fabricated," adding that he would continue, to the best of his ability, to serve his country and its people.

"I did everything that depended on me. I entered the political struggle, I did not step aside or put my own well-being first. We assembled a strong team, developed a solid programme and I declared that I had no personal ambitions and was seeking no office.

I had prepared for a substantive campaign, but unfortunately, it lasted only four or five days. It was followed by personal insults, attacks on members of my family, the arrests of my teammates and criminal cases. Even under those circumstances, I stated that insults against political opponents, and especially against their families, were unacceptable.

Despite all the attacks, the Prosperous Armenia Party received enough votes to enter parliament. In full view of everyone, a straightforward theft took place. By an arbitrary decision of the current authorities, an entire parliamentary faction was prevented from taking its seats. The rights of tens of thousands of our voters were violated and their votes were effectively discarded. This happened before the eyes of the Armenian people and the international community."

Tsarukyan also thanked political parties, public figures and individuals who, regardless of their political views, spoke out against what he called injustice, describing their support as something he would never forget.

"The obviously false and fabricated case against me is a continuation of all this. It is an empty case. My conscience is clear.

Unfortunately, Armenia is facing unavoidable challenges. Difficult and risky times lie ahead, and we will need wisdom above all to overcome them.

We also need internal unity and public solidarity, as I said before the elections and repeat now. I say this despite having been subjected to the greatest injustice.

The decisions of the Central Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Court, the criminal proceedings and my detention cannot change my beliefs or my values.

Regardless of all the injustice, I will continue, to the best of my ability, to serve my country and my people.

I remain your Tsarukyan. I will help those I can and serve my country in every way possible."