Defense Minister slams opposition’s involvement of minors as ‘red line’, cites safety and moral concerns

he involvement of school children and minors in demonstrations and rallies is a red line, defense minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan told a press briefing Monday.

The defense minister was commenting on the ongoing protests in Armenia when on numerous instances minors and school kids have been brought in by opposition figures to participate in rallies and even speak before crowds.

“I really think that the involvement of school children and minors in this process is a red line, they must be differentiated from [university] students. I see several problems in the involvement of children. First is safety. The rallies and marches are being held in the streets, often it is made by disrupting traffic through forced blockings etc. I also pray every second in my mind that someone doesn’t give in to nerves and push the accelerator instead of the breaks. Unfortunately this is a possibility in a situation like this,” Vigen Sargsyan said.

“The second problem is on the level of ideology and morals. These days we often see how children are put before cameras on the stage, and they [crowd] accept with great excitement how the child attempts to draw similarities between the current rally leaders and Monte Melkonyan [referring to a recent case when a minor was seen speaking at a rally and likening Pashinyan to Armenian national hero Monte Melkonyan]. He neither knows Monte, nor can he assess the [opposition] leader. Or when he [child] addresses police with calls, using [slang terms]. This doesn’t bring honor, I say again involving children in this process is a red line”, he said.