Your trusted source

During the previous war in Artsakh, the people were aware of all developments on the frontline and Armenia managed to secure a victory, but it was not the case in the recent autumn war, Vazgen Manukyan, the joint candidate of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement for interim prime minister, told a meeting with residents of Armenia’s Ararat Province on Tuesday.

According to Manukyan, while Azerbaijan was preparing for victory in the war, Armenia was preparing for defeat.

He condemned the prosecution and arrests of army generals by the authorities in 2018 over alleged corruption offences, adding it caused distrust in the military.

The opposition leader believes the modernization of the army was another step that led Armenia to defeat.

"In 2016, Azerbaijan attempted an attack, but realized that it was facing the army which had defeated the country in 1994 and stopped the war. We, in turn, realized what could await us during the next war – use of UAVs, new technologies, but no steps were taken in that direction,” he stated.

He said the former Armenian authorities sought to acquire Tor missile systems to guard against UAVs, however after the change of government the arms purchase plan was revised and, instead, the authorities decided to purchase “toy” airplanes.

“These planes were of no use during the war and were never used. On October 3, France proposed to provide us with weapons to protect against the drones, but we refused. On October 11, France reiterated its offer, but we again turned it down," he said.

Referring to the recent interview of the former Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan, Vazgen Manukyan highlighted the part in which he said that they failed to control the armed forces regularly.

"Reserve forces were taken to forests and left there, with one of the members tasked to lead the groups. It was not a war; it was a slaughterhouse,” he said. “Secret talks were held, due to which Shushi was handed over to the enemy. Russia repeatedly proposed to stop the war, but they [the authorities] did not agree. On the 4th day of the war, the chief of the General Staff [of the Armenian Armed Forces] and the Artsakh leadership called for stopping the war and making concessions, but they did not agree. This was a deliberately defeated war aimed at getting rid of Artsakh," Vazgen Manukyan said.