Opposition politicians call on Artsakh people stay united and not to  succumb to manipulation

ArmInfo.Opposition politicians have criticized the protest action organized in front of  the Artsakh representation in Yerevan, declaring that it is provocative and accusing the current authorities of Armenia of trying to shift responsibility for the developments taking place around  Nagorno Karabakh.

Thus, member of the Armenian Parliament from the "Armenia" faction,  ARF member Gegham Manukyan, in particular stated: "What happened near  the Artsakh representation clearly shows how the Armenian government,  which is the number one responsible for all of this, creates anarchy,  finds culprits far from itself, washes its hands of responsibility  and creates new divisions in the public, this time also in Artsakh  Armenians."

The MP believes that "in fact, the only addressee of this  understandable anger and questions is Nikol Pashinyan and his group,  who are trying to be saved by self-proclaimed schismatics acting on  behalf of the people of Artsakh, directing arrows at others."

"The requirement to correct the situation has now become a vital  necessity. And we must act without delay, opening all the brackets,  calling things by their proper names and facts. Delay is  destructive," Manukyan noted.

In turn, former Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia  Artak Zakaryan condemned the incident in front of the Artsakh  representative office as unacceptable.  "Dear people of Artsakh, do  not separate, you are now being manipulated in order to close the  Artsakh issue with your own hands. You are helping a group called the  "Government of Armenia" make amends for its unforgivable sins before  Artsakh.

In the end, they will shift all the blame onto the Artsakh Armenians,  and in front of the whole world they will discredit Artsakh and the  fair demands and rights of the Artsakh Armenians," Zakarian noted.   In turn, member of the ARF, military expert Arthur Yeghiazaryan  called on the people of Artsakh stay united and not to succumb to  manipulation.

"Dear people of Artsakh, don't be divided, you are now being  manipulated in order to close the Artsakh issue with your own hands.

You are a thoughtful people. I would ask you not to give in to  emotions. I understand the motives of your emotions and the problems  that you face, but I see how now the real destroyers of Artsakh are  trying to take advantage of all this in order to divert the target  from themselves and provoke division. Please, before you take a step,  think soberly about who is behind this step and what goal they are  actually pursuing, what all this will lead to in the end. Then it  will not only be too late, but also irreversible," he concluded.   Today a group of Artsakh people held a protest in front of the  Artsakh representative office in Yerevan, demanding a meeting with  NKR President Samvel Shahramanyan. Citizens expressed dissatisfaction  with the latest decision of the NKR President, which dismissed all  government employees. Clashes broke out during the protest. The  President of the NKR came out to the protesters and promised to give  answers to all their questions.

According to the media reports, the organizer of the protest action  was  former Minister of Defense of Nagorno-Karabakh Samvel Babayan,  who was one of the first to leave Artsakh after its fall.  In  addition, Armenian media write that Shahramanyan was forced to fire  government employees because the Republic of Armenia froze subsidies  for the NKR, despite the fact that they were provided for in the  state budget.