ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN: OUR TASK IS TO GET RID OF THIS REGIME RATHER THAN TO MAKE LEVON PRESIDENT
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NO YAN TAPAN
June 12, 2008

According to the commander of the Shoushi special battalion Zhirayr
Sefilian, all those guilty of keeping him in prison illegally for 18
months must be held accountable by law. He stated this at the June
12 meeting with reporters. Z. Sefilian pointed out that he demands
it not out of revenge but in the interests of establishing statehood
in the country.

In his words, although it is true that "the fish begins to stink at the
head", the heads of the country also have a lot of "employees". In
particular, many "robotized guys" work in the national security
system who are ready to imprison illegally even their own mothers, and
"to serve any president of the country, even if it were Ilham Aliyev".

Z. Sefilian said that he was the only person convicted of keeping
illegal arms who has been kept in prison until the end of his term. He
underlined that he has no personal problems with the former and current
presidents, and the reason for "special" attitude to him lies in
"his type". According to Z.

Sefilian, over the past 10 years the authorities have governed the
country by using three principles: to bribe, intimidate, remove,
which is impossible to do with men of his kind.

Z. Sefilian called the program on his deportation a serious
one. However, at the moment the authorities have given up their
intention, and if such a decision is made, then Z. Sefilian, in his
words, will not be absent from Armenia for a long time, and he will
spend his time abroad to inform the Diaspora about the situation
in Armenia and use the Diaspora’s potential in the interests of the
national movement.

Z. Sefilian declared he will participate in the rally on June 20. He
noted that the rally will be one of the next in turn decisive steps
of the opposition. He said that the opposition will not use the way
of coup, and this is correct. In his opinion, the February events
proved that it is possible to achieve a power shift as a result of long
rallies with the participation of many people. Although the indicated
way is complex and long, it will allow to avoid loss of human life.

Z. Sefilian said that he has differences with the leader of the
national movement Levon Ter-Petrosian, particularly in the issue of
Karabakh problem’s settlement but these differences are not a reason
for not being on his side. He considered it wrong that a group of
people from L.

Ter-Petrosian’s entourage "has made him an idol". The majoity of
people worship not his person but as a man with greater capabilities
than those of the other leaders of the opposition. "Our task is to
get rid of this regime rather than to make Levon president. Levon has
said repeatedly that he is only an instrument to be used, and we use,"
Z. Sefilian stated.