ArmInfo.Armenia's second president Robert Kocharyan clarified why he was not at Republic Square with the protesters during the fall of Artsakh in 2023. During a press conference on February 17, when asked why he was not present with the citizens demanding the resignation of the current government of Armenia during the exodus of Armenians from Artsakh,
Kocharyan noted that at that time he was negotiating with the former Artsakh leaders. "My entire team was at Republic Square during those days. I personally was not there - you are right. However, my entire team was present and they made a corresponding statement, which I had approved. While my team was at the square, I was in constant communication with Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan and other people, making phone calls 5, 6, 10 times a day " Kocharyan explained.
According to the former president, there are things that he cannot currently discuss publicly. The politician added that he had suggested options for getting them out of there. Kocharyan did not dismiss the possibility of addressing this publicly in the future, under more favorable conditions. "I cannot speak openly at this time, as it may raise questions: in what way and how. Yes, at the moment my primary concern was about these people, as I had before my eyes a picture of what is happening in the Azerbaijani courts today. This trial is shameful. They should not never have been there. The Republic of Armenia should have taken every possible step to rescue them: send a helicopter, negotiate with Russian peacekeepers. I tried to resolve this issue without the authorities, working around clock," he said.