Armenian opposition accuses Pashinyan of devaluing Karabakh movement

By comparing the liberation movement in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) with the "velvet revolution", the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has diminished the significance of the events that happened 31 years ago, activists of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the second President of the country, Robert Kocharyan, have stated. The opposition is trying to undermine the trust in the new power by speculating on the painful topic, political analysts believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 20, the NKR celebrated the 31st anniversary of the liberation movement.

The Premier Nikol Pashinyan has compared the Karabakh movement with the Armenian "velvet revolution" of 2018, after which he himself came to power. According to his version, Armenia and the NKR follow the same path.

Armen Ashotyan, a deputy chairman of the former ruling RPA, has stated, in his video message on the Facebook, that Pashinyan's words offend the participants of the Karabakh movement and the memory of the casualties.

The new authorities are trying to undermine the national unity and the soldiers' military spirit by devaluing the history of the Karabakh movement, the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, has stated.

Now, 31 years later, the Karabakh problem still remains a major issue in Armenia, said Eduard Sharmazanov, a former Vice-Speaker of the Parliament. According to his story, the new Armenian authorities have no concept regarding the Karabakh conflict.

Robert Kocharyan, who is currently under investigation, uses every opportunity to criticize the authorities, said Armen Badalyan, a political consultant. He disagrees that Pashinyan's words indicate his attempt to devalue the Karabakh movement.