Robert Kocharyan comments on Sargsyan-Tsarukyan dispute, says government can stop here
Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has commented on the internal political developments of recent days. In an interview with his unofficial website, 2rd.am, Kocharyan said the authorities can stop here and avoid escalating the situation any further. “I cannot explain why the president needed that. If the calculation was that the pressure on BHK Leader Gagik Tsarukyan would disintegrate the BHK, then this effect has not been achieved. On the contrary, there are clear signs of consolidation in the opposition field with a sharp radicalization of vocabulary and objectives. The arguments Serzh Sargsyan voiced in his February 12 speech were rather unconvincing and did not defame the BHK. Any action against the BHK leader will now be regarded [by everyone] as political persecution, which lacks any legitimacy. Considering the degree of social tensions and discontent in the country, as well as the popularity of Gagik Tsarukyan and his Prosperous Armenia Party, I can say that the more vigorously the government tries to ‘clean up’ the political field, the stronger will be the consolidation against the government and the more real will be the prospect of political upheavals. It is not difficult to predict how this will affect the economy, the situation on the Line of Contact in Karabakh and the events dated to the 100th anniversary of the Genocide," said Robert Kocharyan. When the reporter observed that many in Armenia believe that the standoff between the BHK and ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) can further escalate the political situation in the country and asked whether the government has a way out of this situation, the ex-president said, "I believe they have. They can stop here and avoid taking administrative actions against the BHK leader. They can remain within the limits of a verbal duel and return to the political dimension of dealing with opponents. The intentions voiced at the HHK sitting do not fit into the framework of the Armenian Constitution and make the BHK, and opposition in general, is forced to start mass street actions which might have unpredictable consequences. The ensuing arrests and repressive actions will lead the country into a deep and prolonged crisis. Our country is already overloaded with serious problems and their solution is possible only through possible consolidation of society, on the basis of restoring faith in people. What has happened, unfortunately, has become a strong signal in the opposite direction.
