Avetik Chalabyan: Armenia’s sovereignty continues to shrink

NEWS.am
Armenia – Aug 23 2022

Political activist Avetik Chalabyan sent a letter from the penitentiary institution, which was read out by his wife Anahit Adamyan during todsay's rally demanding the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at Republic Square in Yerevan.

In particular, it noted:

"After 32 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, we have an independent state, but on the other hand, its real sovereignty is organic and continues to shrink.

On the one hand, we were able to liberate Artsakh, but on the other hand, we could not hold it and day by day we lose it.

Outwardly, our country is developing, but on the other hand, its population is shrinking.

We face a crucial dilemma: either we must give new breath and meaning to the concept of independence, or we must resign ourselves to the grim thought that our sovereignty will be further diminished each year. We must either be willing to sacrifice ourselves for statehood, or we must accept that our national mission is complete and head off into foreign lands with the hope of material prosperity. The choice we must make together.

To recall, public and political activist Avetik Chalabyan was arrested for three months on August 3, despite being diagnosed with 3rd-degree hypertension, on charges of trying to materially interest students in participating in opposition rallies. Chalabyan had previously been arrested on May 14 and then for another 15 days. On the evening of July 27, the politician was released from Armavir penitentiary.