Will the Opposition Take a Break? Sahakyan on the Continuation of Protests

Vice Speaker of the National Assembly and member of the ARF Central Committee Ishkhan Sahakyan denies reports that the "Resistance" movement will soon declare a timeout. He stated, "This information is not true; we are not discussing any option for a break because there is no reason for it. On the contrary, we are discussing ways to expand our fight and moving in that direction. I believe that through our actions during the past period, we have not given anyone grounds to draw such a conclusion. Therefore, we exclude such a scenario, and as we have said, there is no backward step, no retreat; we are moving forward with that logic, and the rest is just talk that is periodically thrown out into the public. June 3 is a very important day. Those who have expectations or think that the movement can take a break or experience a decline will be met with deep disappointment," Sahakyan told News.am in an interview.

It should be noted that an extraordinary session of the National Assembly will be held on June 3 at the initiative of the "Hayastan" and "Honorary Have" factions. The agenda includes a draft statement regarding Armenian-Azerbaijani and Armenian-Turkish relations. The text of the statement prepared by the opposition states:

"Armenia will support the full realization of the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh. Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan. There should be a reliable land connection between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh; Artsakh will not be an enclave. The Republic of Armenia is the guarantor of the security and realization of the right of self-determination of the people of Artsakh. The demarcation and delimitation works should be carried out on the condition of the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The demarcation and delimitation works will exclude any violation of the integrity of the Republic of Armenia. In the process of normalizing relations with Turkey, any agreement that would call into question the Armenian Genocide is excluded. The reopening of the roads with Azerbaijan and Turkey cannot happen through a corridor logic."