Artsakh MP: Political persecution main tool for maintaining power in  Armenia

ArmInfo.  The regime that has seized power in Armenia for eight years has been consistently destroying all the pillars of Armenian statehood. Both domestic and  foreign policy have been destroyed, state institutions have been  undermined, and law and justice have been devalued, says Artsakh  National Assembly MP Metaxe Hakobyan.

"This government, reproducing itself for the third time through  electoral fraud, vote-buying, and the flagrant abuse of  administrative resources, now rules the country by fear. Vendetta has  become state policy, and political persecution the main tool for  maintaining power. Another constitutional amendment is being  prepared, not for Armenia's sake, but for Nikol's political agenda.  Meanwhile, anyone who doesn't renounce their beliefs and continues to  fight for the homeland is being thrown into prison," the politician  wrote on her Facebook page.

According to her, Armenia has become a country where political  repression against women has become commonplace. She noted that the  country has another female political prisoner: Aregnaz Manukyan, whom  a court ordered yesterday to be held in custody for two months on  charges of disclosing information containing state secrets.

Hakobyan recalled that the businessmen in prison are those who have  not sold their national dignity. She added that world-renowned  businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan has been imprisoned  for thirteen months without any legal basis. A few days ago,  businessman and philanthropist Gagik Tsarukyan fell victim to similar  repression.

"Pashinyan is trying to impose on society the dangerous idea that  only robbers and criminals can succeed.  However, only those  businessmen who bow to the authorities prosper and remain  invulnerable. Those who maintain their dignity, defend the homeland,  and refuse to accept the loss of Artsakh and the weakening of Armenia  are being persecuted. Political figures are being arrested. Armen  Ashotyan and Avetik Chalabyan are back in prison.

Clergymen, diocesan leaders, intellectuals, scientists, parents of  fallen heroes, and high-ranking military officials are being  persecuted. It is no longer possible to compile a list of all  political prisoners in Armenia by name. The Republic of Armenia is  occupied," the MP continues.

According to her, Armenia cannot survive unless it frees itself from  this regime. Hakobyan emphasized that the loss of Artsakh cannot form  the basis of a national consensus. "This cannot be accepted as an  irreversible reality. The struggle to reclaim Artsakh is a struggle  for the existence not only of the people of Artsakh, but of the  entire Armenian people and the Republic of Armenia. Anyone who  deliberately calls for reconciliation with the loss of Artsakh, for  abandoning the struggle for its return, and presents this defeat as a  final decision, in my opinion, is acting against Armenia's national  interests," Hakobyan concluded.