Davit Tonoyan, being the Minister of Defense during the 44-day war, naturally bears responsibility for the defeat. Moreover, he is responsible for the “new war, new territories” slogan he used before the war. Although, for the sake of justice, it should be noted that this boast fits within the framework of the prime minister’s boyish, irresponsible attitude. To tell the truth, I do not believe in the criminal charges against Tonoyan. I think their basis is the “concept” of the government’s propaganda, according to which everyone is to blame for the defeat, except for Pashinyan.
The “investigative” commission formed by the Civil Contract of the National Assembly, whose sole purpose is to advance this thesis, of course, has no problem revealing the truth, including the extent of the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense. And therefore, any action of the commission is called, ultimately, to “whitewash” the Head of the state during the war, the Armed Forces commander-in-chief.
Inviting the former defense minister to the commission was one such measure. Despite that, Davit Tonoyan should be given his due; in his speech and answers, he showed himself as a “man of the state.” What do I mean by that? A “man of the state,” regardless of status, workplace, and political views, is a person who respects the Armenian army, does not try to discredit it (which the current authorities have been busy with for five years), and does not try to prove from morning to night that our army is weak and will be defeated in a new war. That is what Aliyev says now in plain text (which is understandable), and the members of the Civil Contract constantly allude to it.
In Davit Tonoyan’s answers, it was essential for me that he refutes the tales of the government’s propaganda about massive (11 thousand) desertion, betrayal, and the “5th column”. These claims are not only cynical considering the number of casualties, but also direct attack of today’s army.
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And the war is conducted not only by the army. No one will argue that states are at war with their diplomacy, economic and human resources: Also, with the intellectual resource of the government.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
