Pashinyan's rivals have not gotten any closer to overcoming the opposition's fragmentation in a month.
The fragmentation of the opposition has not diminished over the past month amid the onset of the campaign and increased pressure, with the main opposition parties vying for votes and political leadership. Representatives of the Strong Armenia party and the Armenia bloc pointed to the importance of the country's partnership with Russia, but emphasized the importance of an independent policy.
As reported by the Caucasian Knot, the Central Election Commission of Armenia registered all 19 political forces that applied to participate in the parliamentary elections. On May 14, the Central Election Commission annulled the registrations of 45 candidates for parliamentary seats in Armenia who had filed self-withdrawal notices, including candidates on the Wings of Unity and Bright Armenia lists.
Samvel Karapetyan's "Strong Armenia," along with Robert Kocharyan's "Armenia" bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan's "Prosperous Armenia" party, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia".
The election campaign in Armenia, which began on May 8, is in full swing. While in the first days of the election campaign, political forces focused primarily on their respective platforms, in the last few days, the debate between team leaders has become more emotional, not without insults and scandalous statements, reports a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Strong Armenia party leader Samvel Karapetyan is still under house arrest and cannot personally participate in the campaign. This is being handled by his nephew, Narek Karapetyan, who is number one on the party's list and, therefore, currently the only prime ministerial candidate.
The Kremlin is backing Karapetyan, but he is legally ineligible to participate in the elections, Armenian political scientists previously pointed out. Samvel Karapetyan, according to Armenian law, cannot become head of government because he holds Russian and Cypriot passports.
Samvel Karapetyan recently announced that he has begun the process of renouncing his foreign citizenship, but this is not enough, as the law requires permanent residence in Armenia for the past three years. Samvel Karapetyan actively gives interviews, holds press conferences, and makes controversial statements. He recently stated that during a visit to China, Nikol Pashinyan tried hallucinogenic mushrooms at a local restaurant and liked it so much that he brought back a ton.
"He tried hallucinogenic mushrooms in China last year, liked them, and, according to my information, he brought about a ton back to Armenia," Karapetyan said during a press conference held at his private home in Yerevan.
The next day, Pashinyan filed a lawsuit, demanding a retraction and apology.
House arrest does not prevent Samvel Karapetyan from remaining in the public and media spotlight, according to Strong Armenia Party representative and parliamentary candidate Arsen Gevorgyan.
"Our basic strategy has not changed over the past month." "We continue to build our campaign around the program and the nomination of Samvel Karapetyan as a symbol of change, while the practical public rhetoric is being conducted by the team and authorized speakers, since the candidate himself cannot yet personally participate in public events," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
According to him, the party does not plan to nominate alternative candidates for the post of prime minister.
"We have not announced any other official 'public candidate for prime minister' from the party: operational functions are carried out by clearly appointed representatives and media coordinators, and Samvel Karapetyan is our new prime minister," he emphasized.
Assessing the dynamics of relations with Moscow, the party representative noted the absence of drastic changes.
"In April, there were assessments of its interest in the participation of pro-Russian forces in the elections, and we continue to work to ensure that our positions are heard on the foreign policy track. "There have been no noticeable public signs of a change in support, either increasing or decreasing, over the past month," he explained.
Commenting on the situation with the opposition's unification and the risks of pressure from government agencies, Arsen Gevorgyan pointed to the absence of restrictive measures.
"After the Republican Party of Armenia's withdrawal from the elections, discussions about coordination were held, contacts were held with other forces, but there is no formal, broad unification yet. We maintain working contacts and are prepared for a constructive coalition. Regarding pressure from the authorities, yes, Strong Armenia has faced increased pressure, and it will intensify every day, as we gain momentum day by day and the number of our supporters grows,” he noted.
Pressure on the opposition increased during the campaign
According to another representative of the Strong Armenia party, Levon Gasparyan, the pressure on party activists has noticeably increased.
“Pressure from the authorities has intensified over the past month. They are trying to intimidate our activists with business inspections, and a smear campaign is underway in pro-government media. The supposed recordings of conversations between our activists, published daily, are clear evidence of this. They are trying to accuse us of unfair competition. But this only strengthens our resolve – the people see that the government is afraid of competition and is using administrative resources. We are ready for a fair fight and are confident that the Armenian people will make the right choice," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Indeed, in the past month, the Anti-Corruption Committee has frequently made statements about initiating criminal cases against members of "Strong Armenia," publishing recordings of phone conversations in which citizens discuss the size of election bribes, the number of people they can bring to the party's rally, the provision of food, and clothes as aid, and so on, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
"Strong Armenia" publicly denies all these accusations, calling the conversation recordings falsified.
"This is an edited audio recording and a poorly made film, produced by law enforcement agencies that have become a tool in the hands of the authorities. This is the government's signature style. This is no longer of interest to anyone, since everyone knows that the authorities persecute people for even a single sentence, and the presumption of innocence has become a forgotten value," party press secretary Marianna Kagramanyn told the "Caucasian Knot."
Levon Gasparyan is confident that the conversations are fabricated.
"We don't know who they are talking about. We are sure that all these conversations are falsified. They say that these are our activists, but even if they are detaining our activists, the conversation recordings are definitely "These are generated with the aim of discrediting us and our strength," he said.
Politicians' ambitions hinder opposition consolidation
Against the backdrop of such pressure from the authorities, he particularly emphasizes the importance of consolidating the opposition. At the same time, Gasparyan acknowledges the difficulties associated with the political ambitions of the participants.
A fragmented opposition plays into Pashinyan's hands, so we are looking for common ground. However, each force has its own ambitions and vision.
"Consolidation of the opposition is very important. It is progressing, but more slowly than we would like. We understand that a fragmented opposition plays into Pashinyan's hands, so we are looking for common ground. However, each force has its own ambitions and vision, so it is too early to talk about complete consolidation. We are open to dialogue, but we will not compromise on fundamental issues," he explained.
He also He touched upon the topic of the party's foreign policy guidelines and interaction with Russia.
"We build our policy based on the interests of Armenia, not external players. Russia has been and remains our main partner in the spheres of security and economics, but we are not dependent on anyone's instructions from outside," the party representative emphasized.
Kocharyan's team insists that the Armenia bloc has a leading position in these elections.
"Over the past month, we have noted stable and accumulating dynamics, holding meetings, mobilization, and activity data show that we have a leading position due to systematic work in the regions and a targeted campaign, but final conclusions are possible after official opinion polls," Armenia bloc representative Armenuhi Kyureghyan told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
The bloc is open to a unified anti-Pashinyan coalition and support for a single candidate, if agreed upon based on pragmatism and shared programmatic goals.
She confirmed the bloc's readiness to unite with other opponents of the current government, but subject to certain conditions.
"As our leader said, the bloc is open to a united anti-Pashinyan coalition and support for a single candidate, if agreed upon based on pragmatism and shared programmatic goals. At the same time, we reserve the right to consider the Armenia Bloc as the leading opposition force," she emphasized.
Another bloc representative, commenting on the tactics of information confrontation and the issue of external influence, noted the unchanged course of their political force.
"The team deliberately combines consistent institutional rhetoric with a targeted response to negative attacks. We do not intend to get lost between the government's aggression and their populism. It is unlikely that external support will change instantly. We "We are recording the usual diplomatic activity, and the bloc believes that any external preferences do not replace our internal strategy and independence," Arshak Sargsyan told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
In his opinion, their team's key advantage is the second president's management experience.
"We are not engaged in a ratings race with other opposition forces. Our goal is to remove Pashinyan, who has led the country to disaster. Yes, other candidates are actively promoting themselves in the media, having large financial resources, but we have something that others do not - experience in real state governance. Robert Kocharyan has proven that he knows how to build a strong Armenia and negotiate on an equal footing with major players," he noted.
Regarding the style of the election campaign and the factor of external support, he expressed readiness for a tough confrontation.
"The style of our campaign will remain tough, but substantive, without unnecessary emotions. We will not "drown in dirty PR. Our strength lies in Kocharyan's concrete proposals and experience. Pashinyan surrendered Karabakh and national interests - these are facts. As for Russia's attitude, it will be Armenia's main ally, but we are not dependent on Moscow's preferences," he concluded.
Despite the fact that Kocharyan's supporters and the former president himself try not to respond to Pashinyan's numerous emotional attacks, recently, while criticizing Pashinyan for speaking out against Armenian identity and the church, Kocharyan called him a "bully," a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
"Bully, what do you have against this? What makes you hurt the people?" he said, addressing Pashinyan. According to him, he chose this particular word because it is widely used in Pashinyan's "Civil Contract."
Pashinyan immediately responded to Kocharyan on social media. "He's right, it's "The word is widely used in our party, because when we talk about Kocharyan, we use only this word," he said.
The ruling party called criminal cases against the opposition a fight against attempts at destabilization
According to Taron Chakhoyan, a representative of the ruling Civil Contract party, their team views the current pre-election situation not through the prism of personal competition, but as a fight against attempts at destabilization.
"The main risk to stability is not personalities, but attempts to influence elections through pre-election bribery and extra-legal methods. The opposition is looking for methods to influence the fair results of elections. And when these cases are identified and cases are opened on their basis, this is not pressure, but the proper work of the law enforcement system," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Touching on the topic of investigations into Samvel Karapetyan's entourage, he emphasized their Purely legal in nature.
"The focus of the investigations into Samvel Karapetyan's entourage is related to the fact that his associates are distributing election bribes. There are numerous facts, recordings of conversations, all published; anyone can listen and understand how they want to gain votes. A political force confident in its power will not hand out bribes and promise clothes in exchange for voters' votes," he emphasized.
A representative of the Civil Taguhi Ghazaryan expressed confidence that voters will not support forces focused on returning to the past.
“We do not divide opponents into more or less dangerous. Any force that tries to return Armenia to its authoritarian past poses a threat to the country's future. Both Karapetyan and Kocharyan are representatives of the same old system, where the country was ruled by oligarchs in close ties with the Kremlin. They are proposing a return to the 2000s, when corruption was the norm and Armenia's independence was a fiction,” she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Accusations of pressure have increased precisely now because this is a classic opposition tactic - to create a narrative of an "unfair fight" and prepare the ground in advance for challenging the results.
She categorically rejected accusations of using administrative resources, calling them The opposition's defensive tactics.
"Accusations of pressure have increased precisely now because this is a classic opposition tactic - to create a narrative of an 'unfair fight' and prepare the ground in advance for challenging the results. Law enforcement agencies are working within the law, responding to specific violations in the form of attempts to bribe voters and the use of foreign money to influence elections," she emphasized.
As a reminder, there are numerous allegations of pressure on voters who intend to vote against the ruling party, said Arman Tatoyan, former ombudsman of Armenia and leader of the Wings of Unity party. Representatives of the Civil Contract party refused to admit that officials had gathered teachers and students for the rally in Aparan.
Teachers and students from three schools in the Aparan community of the Aragatsotn region held classes on May 13 instead of href="https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/423210">took part in the pre-election campaigning of the ruling Civil Contract party. Employees of the House of Culture and school cleaners were also involved in supporting the authorities during their working hours. Involving public sector employees and schoolchildren in pre-election campaigning is contrary to the Electoral Code of Armenia, the Electoral Commission recalled. Representatives of the ruling party distanced themselves from the incident in the Aragatsotn region, but observers and the teachers themselves confirmed the violation.
Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/423264
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