Kocharian Discusses Differences Between Current and Previous Elections

The second President of Armenia and the head of the "Armenia" alliance, Robert Kocharian, highlighted two factors that differentiate the upcoming early parliamentary elections from all others held so far. Kocharian made these remarks during a campaign meeting with residents of Aparan.

"These elections differ from all previous elections held in Armenia. The main factor that sets these elections apart is the security environment, which we did not have during past elections. We actually felt safer; no one spoke of borders, we were a victorious nation. In that regard, our moods were different. Now, the situation is completely different. In all previous elections, we did not talk about the erosion of the value system; there was no doubt that something was being stolen from our value system, that they were trying to transform us, to turn us into another type," Kocharian stated.

He expressed the opinion that security-related issues and the erosion of the national value system have arisen in parallel and are currently progressing together. Kocharian raised a question: "Was it merely coincidental, or has a deliberate political strategy been implemented to shatter our lives, our type, which inevitably leads to defeat and a decrease in patriotism?" According to him, this policy has been pursued by the current government since 2018, emphasizing that this force must be removed.

Kocharian believes that if the current government continues to remain in power, the losses will not be limited to what already exists. "It is impossible to live in this region without a unique attitude towards statehood, it is impossible to live in this region without a combat-ready army," Kocharian said.

He expressed surprise that on television and in media, people are expressing support for the current government. Kocharian attempted to justify why people should choose the "Armenia" alliance, emphasizing their expertise, experience, determination, and will. "I have been president for 10 years, and during those years, the country's economy grew by double digits," he noted.