Your trusted source

"Armenia's former President Robert Kocharyan has no contender in our political arena," the leader of "National Accord" party Aram Harutyunyan told a press conference on Monday. Harutyunyan added that the only way out of the existing situation in Armenia is through consolidation around Kocharyan. 

"In his recent interview, the president presented clear assessments. And his decision to run for elections was very important. He will participate in the political processes, as a patriotic person would act in the current situation," said Harutyunyan. 

The politician believes Robert Kocharyan is a symbolic image for the Armenian nation, like Garegin Nzhdeh who is acknowledged for liberating Syunik. 

"Later, Kocharyan was sent to prison. When we have the symbol of Artsakh war victory in prison, Shushi was naturally handed over to the enemy. Those were signs revealing Pashinyan's intentions. The one thing we should appreciate in Pashinyan is that he always reveals his intentions for the future. With this respect, everything was clear," said the politician.

As to holding snap parliamentary elections, Harutyunyan said authorities are now backpedaling on holding them, bearing in mind that Kocharyan has never lost elections. 

"The fact that Robert Kocharyan was behind the bars was a shame for all of us. That meant that we had not perceived our victory, and the motherland was not ours," said Harutyunyan.