Kocharian’s BHK Can’t Even Listen to the Sound of Serzh Sargsyan’s Name: Pashinyan

Local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”) yesterday received letters in 5 envelopes from its chief editor, imprisoned journalist Nikol Pashinyan. Today, the newspaper published an article that Pashinyan wrote on Feb. 18 titled “Two Happy News.”

In the article, Pashinyan states that those in Armenia who have “opposition views” should congratulate themselves for the ruling coalition’s recently signed declaration. The reason he says is that this contains two news for domestic politics, both of which are good news: one, Prosperous Armenia (BHK) party leader Gagik Tsarukyan revealed his own nature to be similar to that of Rule of Law (OEK) party leader Arthur Baghdasaryan, and second, that he did that not after elections, but before. Note, prior to the 2008 presidential elections, Baghdasaryan presented his party as an opposition force; however, following the elections, he accepted Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s proposal and joined the ruling coalition. Likewise, it had seemed that Tsarukyan had issues with Sargsyan; however, that has all come to be viewed as a farce, following the signing of the declaration.

The opposition journalist notes that if Baghdasaryan had revealed his true self prior to the 2008 presidential elections, the political situation in the country would be completely different, with a different government, today.

“And who said that BHK won’t resign from the coalition before the 2012 parliamentary elections?” Pashinyan continues.

The opposition journalist surmises that Kocharian’s plan from the beginning was very clear: “Before the 2012 parliamentary elections, he wants to present a proportional BHK list led by the troika Gagik Tsarukyan, Ralph Yirikian (does he even have RA citizenship?) and Sirusho, throw about one billion into the elections, added to this will be the aforementioned troika’s perpetual self-advertising, and aha, HHK [the Republican Party of Armenia] will be kicked to the curb.” And Sargsyan was thinking if he’s unable to stop this plan from being carried out and ensuring his presidency in the 2013 elections, then he should unexpectedly dissolve parliament now and assign new elections since time is not on his side.

However, Pashinyan continues, he was bluffing and parliament wouldn’t be dissolved because “all elections are unpredictable in Armenia.” But did the coalition, with this new document, receive guarantees for the next presidential elections? asks the journalist. “Of course not.”

“From the text of the declaration, it becomes obvious that Kocharian’s BHK can’t even listen to Serzh Sargsyan’s name, instead using the expression ‘acting president’. On the threshold of the next presidential elections, the ‘acting president’ can be [National Assembly Chair] Hovik Abrahamyan: recall, through the RA Constitution, in the case of the president’s resignation or death, the presidential powers transfer to the National Assembly chair, and, if that’s not possible, to the prime minister. It’s this situation that Robert Kocharian wants,” writes Pashinyan.

Photo: Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”)