I don’t know of any crime related to the shortcomings of intelligence officers during the Four-Day Artsakh War. This is what third President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during a press conference today.

“If I knew of any crime, there would be a trial. Who said people must be sentenced for shortcomings? Sentencing has an impact on the promotion of an official and the continuation of his or her service,” he said.

Commenting on the fact that, Major General Arshak Karapetyan, who was head of the Intelligence Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia during the Four-Day Artsakh War, was appointed military attaché adjunct to the Embassy of Armenia in Russia after his dismissal, Sargsyan said, in his opinion, being dismissed from office doesn’t mean a person can’t serve anymore.

“I believe Arshak Karapetyan holds a higher position now. On the one hand, we talk about shortcomings, and on the other hand, we talk about higher positions,” he said.

Touching upon his opinion that there is a risk of war, Sargsyan stated that the negotiations are in a deadlock and that this is increasing the risk of war.

“One of the negative consequences of that deadlock was the events that took place in Tavush Province, and I had predicted those events. These actions don’t contribute to long-lasting peace,” he said.