ArmInfo. Vazgen Manukyan leaves the Public Council of Armenia. In his statement, he noted in particular: "The new authorities had an exceptional opportunity to lead the country in the direction of development, rallying the people around national problems. Unfortunately, they took a different path, and today in our country an environment of mistrust and hatred has formed. This is happening against the background of additional challenges to our security that have arisen in connection with world and regional changes, including in the Artsakh issue>.
According to Manukyan, it was the Public Council that could become one of the most productive instruments in creating an environment of peace and solidarity of the people. Meanwhile, according to him, the authorities continue to take steps and initiate programs that further exacerbate the situation. As an example, Manukyan cited including transitional justice and educational reforms. Manukyan further recalls that he previously made unsuccessful attempts to meet with the Prime Minister to discuss ways to ease tensions in society. "Under these conditions, I consider my further activities in the Public Council pointless, and decided to leave, which I notified the government in writing about," he said, adding that he would continue the struggle for the good of the state and people.
It should be reminded that earlier NA MP Arman Babajanyan demanded that Vazgen Manukyan be dismissed by sending a letter to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. According to him, the reason for this was the fact that during a conversation with Nairi Hunanyan, who was serving a life sentence for a terrorist attack in parliament on October 27, 1999, there were several references to the name of Vazgen Manukyan. Manukyan, for his part, openly stated that although he was familiar with Hunanyan at the beginning of the Karabakh movement, he did not maintain any ties with him in the future.
As for the recent criticism of the authorities, Manukyan explained this circumstance by the fact that his criticism is constructive, and is rather advisory in nature. To recall, the post of chairman of the Public Council Manukyan held since May 30, 2009. His term expired in April next year.