MP Taron Simonyan from the opposition Bright Armenia faction condemned the developments around the Armenian military's General Staff amid the martial law. 

Addressing lawmakers on Thursday, Simonyan said residents of Syunik and Tavush Provinces are sounding an alarm over the intensified Azerbaijani activity, adding “it is unacceptable to touch the army in such a situation.”

To the observation that snipers were seen guarding the Armenian parliament building as the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement was holding a rally outside it on Wednesday, Taron Simonyan said that security should be ensured during mass events, but it is another matter when it is done demonstratively.

“We have a problem here, since the demonstration of force causes quite serious problems in terms of human rights protection, and there are both documents adopted within the Council of Europe and judicial practice about this,” he said.

The deputy found it difficult to say whether the deployment of snipers in a place visible to the people was a deliberate step or a result of negligence.

“Negligence and intentionality have mixed in the authorities’ moves, because they have made so many mistakes without mastering professional skills that there is intent in negligence and negligence in intentionality," he said.