Serzh Sargsyan criticizes May 28 military parade

Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan criticized the May 28 military parade in Yerevan, calling it a “show” meant to to justify massive defense spending rather than a genuine demonstration of military capability.

Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, Sargsyan dismissed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s recent remarks that Armenia’s arsenal was outdated. “Weapons are not for display, they are for fighting,” he said, questioning how many battles the showcased arms had actually been used in.

Sargsyan pointed to Pashinyan’s statement before the 2020 war, when the prime minister claimed Armenia’s army had decisive influence in the region. “If the weapons were scrap metal, how could they be decisive?” Sargsyan asked.

He further suggested that the parade was staged to account for “the enormous sums supposedly spent on defense,” adding that a full investigation would only be possible after a change in government.