The only flag that cannot be burned in Republic Square is the flag of Armenia — Hrazdan Zeitlyan

Writer and publicist Hrazdan Zeitlyan, in an interview with Alpha News, commented on the burning of Turkish and Azerbaijani flags in Republic Square, Yerevan, during the torchlight procession on April 23.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan condemned the act of burning Turkish and Azerbaijani flags before the torchlight procession commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Pashinyan’s press secretary, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, stated, “Pashinyan condemns such practices, considering them irresponsible and unacceptable. Burning the flags of internationally recognized states, especially those of neighboring countries, cannot be interpreted differently by the head of state. It is a provocative and inflammatory act.”

“Pashinyan considers the burning of the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the center of Yerevan unacceptable. But the only flag that cannot be burned in Republic Square is the flag of Armenia. In other cases, if people need to express their opinion by burning a flag, they have every right to do so—especially since it happened on the eve of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,” Zeitlyan said.