YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Press Secretary of the Prime Minister of Armenia Vladimir Karapetyan commented on the announcements of the former Secretary of Security Council of Artsakh Vitaly Balasanyan. ARMENPRESS reports, citing 168.am, to the question how he would comment on the announcements of Vitaly Balasanyan saying that the funding of 2 NGOs by the Armenian Government for observing the elections in Artsakh is a ‘’direct interference in Artsakh's sovereignty and Constitution'' and that ‘’Nikol Pashinyan's all activities deserve criminal prosecution’’, as well as that ‘’both the parliament and Government of the Republic of Armenia has been usurped and the parlaimentary elections of 2018 in Armenia were illegal'', Vladimir Karapetyan answered,'

''First, the idea of carrying out observer mission by Armenian organizations during elections in Artsakh is agreed with the authorities of Artsakh. Any democratic country is interested that as many as possible observers participate in their elections, because it not only raises the trustworthiness of the elections, but also the international reputation of the country and we hope that during the local and national elections in Artsakh the authorities will invite international observers.

Besides, the Prime Minister of Armenia assumed an obligation on August 5 at the Revival Square of Stepanakert to be the guarantor of the free expression of will of the people of Artsakh, which was applauded by the participants of the gathering. And the mentioned decision is one of the steps in the sidelines of that obligation.

As refers to that Vitaly Balasanyan accuses PM Pashinyan in usurping power, it means that Balasanyan accuses the people of Armenia in usurping power, because the political changes in Armenia were triggered by the people. And only people who previously usurped power with the help of frauds, murders and corruption and currently inspired by a marginal group waiting for their trial can blame people in usurping power''.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan