YEREVAN. – I could not have forgiven myself and allowed our Armenian mothers to try to take the same step that I did. Armenia’s world boxing champion Israyel Hakobkokhyan said this at a press conference Friday, talking about the reasons for ending his recent hunger strike.

"When I saw what kind of Armenian women we have, (…) I was more inspired, enthused by that. I believe that the important thing is not physical strength, it is being mentally strong; our Armenian women further strengthened and toughened me spiritually.

"I could not have forgiven myself and allowed our Armenian mothers to try to take the same step that I did; I do not know whether that step was right or not," said Hakobkokhyan and added: "I felt that our Armenian nation is slowly waking up from the slumber that [PM] Nikol [Pashinyan] had hypnotized (…).

My wish is for our Armenian nation to unite. And today's authorities are so delighted, in love with themselves that they are leading our nation to destruction today."

And addressing PM Pashinyan, Israyel Hakobkokhyan said: "If you are not a con artist, [if] you are not a swindler of our nation, then really show that you are really starting from a new page, like what you said, and announce to everyone that you will tear and throw away the conventions under which the former ones—which you abhor and are disgusted so much—have signed, and you start everything from a new page."