What Pashinyan and His Team Agreed with Karen Karapetyan a Year Ago

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ararat Mirzoyan, writes on his Facebook page:

“Close the door, we are staying in prison or some details of Serj’s resignation.”

It may sound strange, but the calmest day of the entire Movement for me was the situation in the Holding Area for those arrested in Erebuni.

When they brought me and Sasun here from Shengavit on the evening of April 22, an indescribable tranquility descended on me. All my senses seemed to have switched off. They took our belts and the laces of my shoes, the rest was taken by the investigators from the Special Investigation Service in Shengavit. I asked them to cut one lace in half, so that I could at least tie a little and be able to walk. They agreed.

They took us to different cells. Later we would learn that Avinyan, Armen Grigoryan, and many other friends were in the same place. I lay down. Occasionally, rhythmic hits could be heard through the heating pipes. It was hard to confuse the rhythm: step and reject Serj. We responded in the same manner.

I don’t know how much time passed, but the door opened, and I was ordered to let the other guy out of my cell. After that, a high-ranking official came in. In the following hours, this was repeated over and over again. Various high-ranking officials came to visit and negotiate. I told everyone: go tell Serj to resign; he is taking you and the country into the abyss; after that, we will negotiate.

After the visit of the Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, they brought me a radio receiver. Finally, I got information about what was happening outside. Nikol’s situation was still unknown. The Speaker of the National Assembly Ara Babloyan brought several bags of food with him. I asked the guards to distribute it among all the detainees in portions.

In the morning, the same thing. A rustle, a sound, hello guys, you come out. Shortly after, Karen Karapetyan entered. We lit our cigarettes. The same messages were exchanged from both sides. The conversation again hit a dead end.

- Do you believe that I want what is good for Armenia? - he said.

- Of course, - I answered. I wasn’t lying.

- Well, let’s all go talk together.

They escorted us to another cell. Nikol was sitting there. We embraced and asked about each other. He told that they had taken him to Sevan and immediately brought him back to Yerevan. Sasun was also brought. Karen Karapetyan ordered coffee for us.

I understood that they had negotiated separately with all three of us throughout, trying to find a weak point. We all said the same thing: only resignation. Nikol had also finally said that they would call us to discuss the terms together.

He conveyed his willingness to resign after the Francophonie in autumn. Naturally, we rejected it with a smile. He left, talked, came back; I think he offered some day in May or June. We said it was out of the question. He left, talked, came back, suggested April 25. We asked to be left alone. We talked, and unanimously decided to refuse, sending back the message: no. I joked: we are staying in prison, close the door.

He offered the same day—late evening of April 23. We said no. In one or two hours, - Nikol said. Karen Karapetyan left, negotiated, returned, and said: we agreed, it will happen in two hours.

- Well, let’s go to the Republic Square together, - he said. Again, we were left alone. We decided to refuse. We agreed to take a photo with him near the exit. We went to wash and get ready. We came out.

Halfway through Tigran Mets Avenue, we had to get out of the car and continue on foot. People were hugging us, kissing us, and lifting us in the air. It was a general euphoria.

I personally have not heard or read the resignation. Even until now. I only know that he said: Nikol was right, I was wrong.”