Armenian former defense minister doesn't agree with PM's statement on army

The former head of the Armenian Defense Ministry, David Tonoyan, does not agree with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement that the Armenian army received everything it wanted, Report informs via Sputnik-Armenia.

Tonoyan made the remarks at a meeting of the parliamentary commission to investigate the circumstances of the 44-day war.

"As a member of the government, I did not put unrealistic questions before the prime minister. And those questions that I raised received specific answers and solutions. I worked in an atmosphere of trust, but I do not accept this statement. I would not have formulated it that way," he said.

The ex-minister refrained from evaluating the actions of the head of the Armenian government during the 44-day war, noting that this should be done by an investigative commission.

"In those days, I was his subordinate and during the crisis period I dealt with tactical tasks, I was cut off from political issues. It would be incorrect for me, as a former defense minister, to give assessments," he said.

Tonoyan assured that the Ministry of Defense and when being a minister, he performed his functions, and there were no obstacles from the prime minister.

On June 27, at a meeting of the parliamentary commission investigating the circumstances of the 44-day war, Pashinyan stated that since 2018 he had been guided by the “everything for the army” policy, including increased salaries for the military, and additional purchases of weapons and military equipment. As a representative of political power, he expressed readiness to provide the armed forces with everything necessary. And the army "got everything it wanted."