If all our captives had been returned, for example, 1-2 months ago, they would again have been returned 1-2 months late. Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is the ruling Civil Contract Party’s candidate for Prime Minister, stated this during Tuesday’s election campaign in Aragatsavan village of Aragatsotn Province of Armenia—and ahead of the snap parliamentary elections on June 20—, referring to the stir that was caused after his statement on Monday.

He had stated yesterday that the Armenian captives in Armenia would forgive the Armenian authorities if they were released 1-2 months late, but they would not forgive them if this release happened at the expense of Armenia's sovereignty.

"All those who returned in April, all returned at least 1-2 months late. During meetings with the relatives of the captives, I have always said that ‘I would never deceive you.’ There was only one case when I said to [the relative of] a captive citizen, 'Your relative will be here tomorrow,' as all the agreements, assurances were there, but it did not work out; this became a lesson for me that I never say a timeframe. I always say: we must fight as much as necessary so that they return as soon as possible," Pashinyan stressed.