Two Members of the ‘Armenia’ Alliance Refuse to Take Parliamentary Mandate

Member of the ‘Armenia’ alliance, Ruben Melkonyan, the dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Yerevan State University, has announced his decision to refuse the parliamentary mandate.

“Dear compatriots, – Following the nationwide disaster of 2020, there was a greater need than ever for the consolidation of knowledge and skills from various segments of society for the sake of statehood and to prevent the decline of statehood. Being and continuing to be non-partisan, I decided to apply my professional knowledge not only in the scientific-educational field but also in a more practical realm, including the political sphere, as I consider it avoidance to confine myself to purely scientific-educational activities in this critical situation, while the adaptability of intellectuals is an enormous disaster for the state,” he stated.

“Thus, I participated in the 2021 parliamentary elections on the list of the opposition ‘Armenia’ alliance as an alternative to the current government. This was not only a political act but also a civic step.”

However, for various reasons, the results of the elections did not bring about change in Armenia, and the defeated forces continued to govern. Unfortunately, many experts, including myself, predicted that the lack of a change in government would not promise any positive prospects for Armenia; today’s situation is the best proof of that.

“Since 2018, and especially after November 2020, as an opposing citizen and as an expert on Turkey, I have had and continue to maintain my reasoned approaches and positions on social-political processes, which have not changed. Oppositional forces committed to changing the situation have not succeeded in doing so for various reasons. I do not want to evaluate the actions in which I have not participated, but this course of events and today’s tactics are completely incomprehensible to me. I believe that the steps being taken to achieve the ultimate goal are currently inadequate and inconsistent with the realities.”

“Particularly in today’s National Assembly and in the currently created situation, I find my potential parliamentary activity inappropriate, as I believe its usefulness for our statehood will be either zero or insignificant. Therefore, I have decided to refuse the parliamentary mandate I received nearly 1.5 years after the elections, and I do not wish to participate in aimless processes.”

“I will remain committed to my oppositional civic stance and will serve the truths arising from my profession and my knowledge and skills entirely for the benefit of our state and the education of our enlightened youth. Tomorrow, I will submit my application to the CEC to refuse the mandate,” the statement reads.

Robert Hairapetyan has also submitted a request to refuse his parliamentary mandate. He particularly wrote: “The current realities are incompatible with my views on potential parliamentary activity and my responsibilities pertaining to the primary mandate. In my future public activities, I will remain faithful to my principles and, regardless of my status, I will continue my opposition activities and fight against the current incompetent authorities. God bless Armenia and Artsakh,” Hairapetyan wrote.

It is noteworthy that members of the ‘Armenia’ faction, including Aram Vardevanyan, members of the ‘Revival of Armenia’ party Vahe Hakobyan, Elena Kirakosyan, and Hripsime Stambulyan, have also submitted requests to relinquish their mandates. If they do not withdraw their applications within the specified one-week period, they will be replaced by new deputies in parliament.