Opposition MPs’ requests to visit the frontline have gone unanswered for months, says Gegham Manukyan

A few days ago, Tigran Abrahamyan, the secretary of the National Assembly "I have honor" faction, said that the statements of the authorities that the opposition MPs avoid going and getting acquainted with the samples of the acquired weapons, do not correspond to reality.

A few days ago, Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the National Assembly’s “I Have Honor” faction, stated that the authorities’ claims that opposition deputies are avoiding visits to review newly acquired weapons are untrue. According to him, the authorities – specifically the Ministry of Defense – have banned his access to the frontline for six months.

Gegham Manukyan, a member of the “Armenia” faction, told Aysor.am that opposition MPs’ applications to visit the frontline have been left unanswered for months. Responding to the claims about getting acquainted with newly acquired weapons, Manukyan said:

“We do not want to be part of Nikol Pashinyan’s traveling circus. Everything they are now talking about – at government sessions, during budget discussions – we already examine in detail, the good, the bad, and the very bad. But we do not raise this issue from the perspective of security. Let them remain content with their show. If they want us to see these weapons within the Armed Forces, understand where and how they are used, and learn how the relevant units operate them, then I am ready to see it.” He added that this is not the first time he has observed engineering work on the ground.

“After seeing these works, we have submitted comments and recommendations many times. For them, the security of the country and the army seem like kindergarten toys. For us, our country is the most important component of security – something these authorities, unfortunately, fail to understand. MPs’ applications to visit the frontline remain unanswered for months,” Manukyan said.