Elections Cannot Be Held Right Now; Time is Needed to Recover and Prepare

The leader of the "Republic" party, Aram Z. Sargsyan, wrote on his Facebook page:

"The 21st-century army defeated the 20th-century army, and NATO's armaments outperformed the Russian ones. The consequence is the agreement between Erdoğan and Putin, which is very bad and I cannot defend it, even for the reason that I am the brother of Vazgen. Nevertheless, the declaration is a fact. The Russian troops, with their uncharacteristic speed and multimillion-dollar expenditures, are being stationed in the territories of Artsakh, and any process that opposes and obstructs this is risky, reckless, and will be severely punished by war and a change in the geography of war, which would be devastating for us.

Political developments show that the Russians are not sparing their fifth column in this issue either. It is also obvious that the painful outcome of the war, which was unexpected for all of us, because it was portrayed differently—instilling hope and belief in a final victory—has caused doubts, disappointment, and skepticism in society, which is a very complex and time-consuming problem to overcome.

Five years from now, Azerbaijan may refuse peacekeepers; therefore, during these five years, we must unify the entire potential of the Armenian people, and for that, we must be able to:

1. Achieve discussions on the status of the Republic of Artsakh within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and find solutions to the right of nations for self-determination.
2. Direct all Armenian potential towards the recognition process of the Republic of Artsakh in all countries of the world.
3. Utilize the productive, economic, raw material, and even cultural resources of the Republic of Armenia to create a military technology and army that aligns with the 21st century.

Only then will we prove again that there is no more courageous man in the world than an Armenian man, and only in that case will Azerbaijan request that the peacekeepers continue to stay.

The only legitimate way to resolve such issues, to defuse the created situation, and to fill the public with hope and political solidarity is to set a date for early elections. Elections, of course, cannot be held right now, amidst shocking and tense sentiments; time is needed to recover and prepare.

Since October 27, I am a type that has overcome distrust, crisis, and opposition, and I see no other option than not to please the enemy and to take steps towards collective solidarity and cooperation. I am convinced that the resolution of domestic political issues must be carried out solely through the processes provided by the Constitution, through the full implementation of the institutions of the National Assembly, government, and presidency.”

— Aram Sargsyan