The members of “Sasna Tsrer” group clearly explained their surrender: to avoid the bloodshed that could be inevitable if it persisted. The RA authorities were preparing to attack, especially after the statement of NSS dated July 30. “Sasna Tsrer” group definitely remained in the logic that they do not want bloodshed, this was just a move which generated from the fact that unfortunately other means and methods for the solution of the problems accumulated in Armenia and for changing them are ineffective and do not work. Over the past 14 days, the conduct of the authorities definitely proved it because we did not see other tools by the government other than power,” – so responded Artur Sakunts, Director of the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, in an interview with us, evaluating the surrender of the armed group that has occupied the SPS regiment.
According to him, the authorities do not absolutely understand the situation that the country has appeared in, “We did not receive any message from the government. Serzh Sargsyan’s statement was only 4-5 days later, furthermore, they demanded only to surrender. We can state that Serzh Sargsyan was able to free the territory of the Patrol-Sentry Service regiment, but he still has a problem with the RA citizens. We saw that in the meantime there were a number of protests in Sari Tagh area, in the village Spandaryan of Sisian region, at least small but protests were held in Vanadzor, Gyumri and Kapan. Serzh Sargsyan saw “Sasna Tsrer” as the only target for him, but he failed to see the public that was holding multi-thousand protest rallies. In these protests, people were again demanding the government’s resignation. He did not make one step to enter into a dialogue with the citizens. We are in a situation now: Serzh Sargsyan occupied the SPS regiment but he was unable to occupy the whole Armenia. As to how the authorities will behave themselves now is essentially important”. Artur Sakunts is confident that the used violence will result in new outbreaks of protest, “If he does not go for changes and maintains the status quo of using force, then he will just provoke to new crisis situations. In other words, the crisis is not overcome, it is muted but persists.”
According to Artur Sakunts, once again the entire political system became sterile, with the exception of one or two politicians. Serzh Sargsyan reaped the fruits, which he had consistently formed during the tenure of his presidency. To our question that rumor are circulated that after these events, Serzh Sargsyan wants to get rid of Vladimir Gasparyan, Artur Sakunts responded, “As to who wants to get rid of whom, Serzh Sargsyan of Gasparyan or vice versa, it has no so importance for us because Serzh Sargsyan II or Vova Gasparyan III. Will come After the April war, we saw that such changes do not have any significance.”
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