A tense situation arose at the entrance of the Defense Ministry where the parents of soldiers missing since the 44-day war gathered at the gates, demanding a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Eduard Asryan and former Artsakh Defense Army commander, now Defense Minister’s adviser, Kamo Vardanyan, Sputnik Armenia reported.
Some parents were already inside. However, since others refused to leave the gates, a large number of military police and police officers were brought in, surrounding the families.
The parents closed the access gate and refused to reopen it.
According to them, a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff had been scheduled for September 29. They said they had been on Defense Ministry grounds since 11:00 a.m., but no official met them, Pastinfo reported.
Relatives tried to enter the compound, insisting that all should take part in the meeting, even though the ministry had earlier announced it was ready to receive only a limited number of individuals.
One parent expressed frustration: “He’s afraid to come before the people.”
Security staff urged relatives to leave the checkpoint area and at the same time banned journalists from filming inside the ministry premises.
One mother recalled that already on Saturday, when parents had demanded a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff and Kamo Vardanyan, ministry officials had promised to receive 30 parents.
“They ran from us the same way they ran from the war. They are avoiding us,” she said, according to Pastinfo.
Another parent added: “They promised, but as always, they didn’t keep it. Parents are always deceived.”
Asked why they refused to meet with Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan, one woman replied: “There’s no point; I don’t see any meaning in meeting him.”
On September 27, the families of the missing had again gathered in front of the Defense Ministry demanding a meeting. Later, they were told such a meeting would take place on Monday.
