Opposition figure: Armenia is being forced into a creeping capitulation, and the leaders of key opposition forces are being neutralized to successfully achieve this goal

ArmInfo.  Armenia is being forced into a creeping capitulation today, and in order to successfully achieve this goal, the leaders of key opposition political forces that could stop these processes are being neutralized. Armenian parliament member from the opposition Armenia faction Lilit Galstyan stated this at a press conference in Yerevan on September 14.

She said it was obvious that what is happening in Armenia has a geopolitical context.  "It is also obvious that the geopolitical architecture in our region is changing. And when we talk about the "Trump Route" (TRIPP), we need to understand that it contains no security component whatsoever; that is, this project does not solve any of our problems. Today, every citizen should ask whether this campaign against opposition leaders has any legal component at all. We are not opposed to legal proceedings, but they must be carried out within the framework of the law, without violating people’s constitutional rights. Without a single proven court ruling to date, representatives of the ruling Civil Contract party are speaking from the parliamentary rostrum about all this as an established fact. This is a total violation of the presumption of innocence. Today, an shameful number of arrests have been recorded in Armenia. Everyone seems to have forgotten that we have international obligations and have turned arrest into an instrument of intimidation and repression," Galstyan noted.

Speaking about who benefits from these processes, the parliament member noted that, first and foremost, it is the current Armenian authorities, who are preparing to make further concessions to the enemy. "I agree that other political forces also have their problems; we feel responsible for everything, but every Armenian must understand what is happening in Armenia and with what intentions. What is happening is that Armenia is being forced into a creeping capitulation today, and to carry this out, the leaders of those political forces that could somehow influence this are being removed," the opposition politician stressed.

In particular, the parliament member believes that an information smokescreen is being created ahead of new concessions and the loss of statehood. As the parliament member noted, there can be no talk of peace while there are Armenian prisoners of war in Baku and when Armenia’s territories are occupied. "And behind all these repressions, one must see a single thing—the threat of losing Armenia’s sovereignty and statehood," Galstyan added

Under these circumstances, the parliament member noted, the country currently has no security guarantees.  "Today, our country’s ability to ensure its security is at zero. In conditions of an obvious violation of the geopolitical and strategic balance, Armenia has no resources to ensure its own security. And it is obvious that the Armenian authorities are trying to compensate for this lack of resources through ongoing concessions. We see that for the Armenian authorities, the EU is merely geography, without substance. And the only security guarantee for now remains the 102nd Russian military base, whose fate is also under serious question today. But I am convinced that vulnerable countries such as Armenia need direct and indirect support from other states as guarantors of its security. Another component of our security is national solidarity, and I do not remember that over the past 36 years, the disunity of the people and the atmosphere of intolerance in Armenia have ever been as pronounced as they are today. This also poses a threat to our security today," the parliament member concluded.