Lawyer Roman Yeritsyan stated that there is no exiled government operating in Armenia and that Samvel Shahramanyan continues to represent solely the interests of the Republic of Artsakh and its people—regardless of whether his statements appear oppositional or supportive of the authorities. He made these remarks to journalists following Shahramanyan’s latest questioning by the Investigative Committee, as reported by Aysor.am .

According to Yeritsyan, the frequency of Shahramanyan’s interrogations is tied only to the complexity and volume of the criminal case.

"The criminal case concerns the transfer of the Republic of Artsakh under Azerbaijani control, the surrender of arms to Azerbaijan, and other related actions. These events lasted just a few days, but the resulting legal proceedings will likely stretch on for many years," he said, noting he is not yet authorized to disclose details of the investigation.

Asked whether Shahramanyan is being politically persecuted, Yeritsyan clarified that in the current proceedings, Shahramanyan has the status of a witness, and no such conclusion can be drawn within this specific context.

"This case is not about determining who gave up Artsakh. For me, and for any Armenian citizen, it is already more than clear who surrendered it. The focus here is on military negligence and the handover of weapons and ammunition to the enemy," he said.

When asked to specify whom he believed was responsible, Yeritsyan replied, "Those currently holding power in Armenia, the executive branch. For any Artsakh resident—and now, increasingly for citizens of Armenia—it is absolutely clear that Artsakh was surrendered either intentionally or negligently by Armenia's current leadership. The motive is secondary; the result is what matters."

Shahramanyan’s term as President of the Republic of Artsakh officially ended on May 21. He was elected on September 9, 2023. At that time, it was announced that a new presidential election would be held within 10 days, but no such vote has taken place to date.