Armenia’s enemies could take advantage of situation – Tevan Poghosyan

In an interview with Tert.am, Heritage parliamentary group member Tevan Poghosyan commented on the Gyumri tragedy and events in Yerevan.

He noted that Armenia’s society and authorities failed to prevent that situation by coordinated actions.

Asked if Armenia’s law-enforcement agencies should consider a possibility of attempted destabilization of the situation in the country amid the public protests and indignation at the massacre in Gyumri, Mr Poghosyan said:

“Certainly all the versions must be considered. The motive for the crime is not clear now. So the law-enforcers should most seriously consider the possibility of a premeditated crime to escalate tension in Armenia and provoke popular hostility.

“And even if a transparent or impartial investigation reveals it was not a motive for the crime, I feel regret that our society, well aware of the possibility of certain forces making use of it, failed to be on the alert, while our law-enforcers failed to properly perform their duties to prevent the incidents.

“We, both society and the government, could have taken necessary measures to prevent such a situation. The head of the Shirak diocese was right when he said that the criminal was calm, with a public defender attached to him, while Armenians were breaking one another’s scull. Why Armenians raise their hands to one another in Yerevan or in Gyumri? We should have prevented such situations.

“The authorities should have informed the public of the developments from the very first day. Yesterday, Armenia’s prosecutor general was in Gyumri all day along. In the latter half of the day he gave promise to Gyumri residents, reminding them he had a family and was well aware of everything.

“Policemen should have talked to Gyumri residents. People raised questions, without getting answers. So they had to find them. Of course, many people could have taken advantage of the situation. Being well aware of that, we must realize the necessity of responding during the very first day. And if mourning had been declared the first day, it would have been a political ‘message’ as well.

“We must realize that our enemies are not asleep and trying to take advantage of instability in Armenia. Although it was an unprecedented incident, we could never predict its consequences and reaction to it. But we should have been able to take certain measures and conduct negotiations.”