Former Leaders Were Men of Their Word: Artak Galstyan's Statement

Artak Galstyan, the president of the 'Public Voice' party, has released a statement from prison in which he states:

“I saw on television the statement released by the Investigative Committee, where they linked my family members to an alleged network of drug dealers and even included a video about me in relation to this case. In this context, I would like to clarify the following: my family—my wife, son, and daughter-in-law—have as much connection to this case as the fake grandfather of Robert Abajyan, who appeared in a public speech back in 2018. I declare that all cases initiated against me, my family, and my close ones are fabricated, and those who have been arrested are hostages. This is a total political persecution, accompanied by torture and legal lawlessness. The goal is to ensure the victory of the ruling party in the upcoming mayoral elections. By the way, I cannot help but comment on the game favored by the ruling party regarding past and present leaders. Unlike the current ones, previous leaders did not imprison entire families on fabricated charges under political orders, nor did they resort to torture. Moreover, they did not threaten the male members of the family by torturing their wives and children. Most importantly, the former leaders were men who kept their word and oaths, at least at the level of the honor of the law enforcement system. In conclusion, I will say the following: those who do not believe in the law of the boomerang are those who have not yet encountered it, and the fact that such an encounter is inevitable is a historical fact and undeniable.”