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The joint candidate of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement for interim prime minister, Vazgen Manukyan, on Tuesday dismissed the claims of an MP from the ruling My Step bloc that the domestic political situation prevented the return of a group of prisoners of war (POWs) from Azerbaijan as “nonsense”.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the opposition rally on Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan, he said pro-government lawmakers make "stupid statements”, stressing that there must be at least one argument that the activities of the opposition impede the repatriation of prisoners.

Touching upon the criminal case launched against him, Vazgen Manukyan said that it has been forwarded to the court and the trial will be held soon.

“I never comment on my calls, it is the job of lawyers,” he said, answering the question if he sees anything dangerous in his statements.

Vazgen Manukyan noted that they will continue their activity, adding until 6pm today they will wait for President Armen Sarkissian's decision on whether or not to ask the Constitutional Court to determine the legality of the dismissal of the army’s General Staff chief by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. According to him, their further actions will become clear afterwards.

To the remark that people are awaiting decisive steps, but the movement seems to be slowing down, Vazgen Manukyan said that decisive actions are ahead.

“You should take into account one thing: Nikol Pashinyan cannot retain hold on power, as day by day broader sections of the society turn away from him. He has only one option –  to establish dictatorship, but for that he needs the army. That is why he wants to break the army, but he will fail,” the opposition leader said.