Armenia`s ex-minister of defense not ready to participate in political processes

ArmInfo.  "All the ammunition  purchased during my tenure as Minister of Defense of Armenia was fit  for use." Former Minister of Defense of Armenia David Tonoyan stated  this in a conversation with journalists on August 20 in response to a  request to comment on the charges brought against him for purchasing  unfit ammunition. 

"I reiterate with full responsibility that both during the purchase  and today, these missiles are fit for use. I say this with full  responsibility and am ready to sign under every word I say," Tonoyan  emphasized, recalling that a corresponding examination of these  missiles was carried out. He believes that the examination dispelled  the suspicions of those who doubted this. 

When asked why he did not try to figure out why the Prime Minister of  Armenia punished him, Tonoyan assured that he knew the reasons why he  was deprived of freedom for almost three years, however, he was not  going to speak about it publicly. Touching upon the situation around  Armenia, the former Minister of Defense noted that in his opinion,  the Republic today has serious problems in terms of ensuring its own  security, which need to be addressed.

"I tell both the authorities and the opposition forces that I can  help solve these problems, but not for political purposes," he added.

The former official also said that he has no desire to engage in  politics today. This is how he answered a question about the  likelihood of participating in the upcoming opposition protests. "I  have been in politics for 30 years - in defense policy, in security  policy, but I have never fought for power. And so far I have no  desire to participate in political processes," Tonoyan added.

David Tonoyan is a defendant in a criminal case related to abuses in  the process of supplying ammunition, including missiles.

The head of the company supplying weapons to Armenia David Galstyan,  former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Stepan  Galstyan and a number of other officials are also involved in this  case. The former minister has been in custody since September 2021.

He was the only one of the 7 defendants in this case who was in  prison. On August 15, 2024, the court changed Tonoyan's preventive  measure. He was released from custody on bail of 15 million drams. In  total, according to the ex-minister, he spent 2 years, 10 months and  17 days in prison.