Zhirayr Sefilyan not to apply to president any longer
Commander of Shushi battalion Zhirayr Sefilyan has thrice applied for Armenian citizenship but his bids were rejected by Armenia's ex-President Robert Kocharyan and incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan.
During today's meeting with Hayazn youth Union, Sefilyan said the authorities' denial is motivated by political and personal reasons.
Sefilyan says he is not going to apply for citizenship any more. At the same time, he does not rule out that Serzh Sargsyan is likely to grant him citizenship without application.
"Since Sargsyan seeks to come to power for a second term, he will try to persuade people that he is a "strapping man" who performs "chivalrous deeds." If he really wants to do noble deeds, I will not oppose to him," said Sefilyan.
The Artsakh war hero says he has submitted all necessary documents when applying for citizenship.
"I was ordered to present a document from Lebanon certifying that I had not been convicted within the last ten years. It was merely ridiculous as I have not resided in Lebanon for 12 years," said Sefilyan.
In June, Hayazn Youth Union launched a signature collection in an attempt to ask Armenian authorities to grant citizenship to Zhirayr Sefilyan. On July 10, on Sefilyan's birthday, the union members took the 13 000 signatures to the presidential residence. A few days, they received an answer saying that they should apply to the relevant police department.
