Former HAK Political Council Member Says Why He’s Disappointed in the Opposition Bloc

Armenian National Congress (HAK) member Samvel Harutyunyan informed reporters in the capital today that he has renounced a possible slot in the opposition bloc’s list of nominated candidates to contest a parliamentary seat in the upcoming election under the proportional system due to serious disagreements with HAK’s adopted strategy — particularly with respect to the principle of compiling the list.

Recall, in the upcoming May 6 parliamentary elections, 131 National Assembly deputies will be elected under a mixed electoral system: 90 deputies will be elected under a proportional system in a nationwide constituency and a further 41 in single-mandate constituencies under a majoritarian system.

Pointing to his issues with HAK, Harutyunyan said that after 3.5 years he left HAK’s political council though he contains to remain a member.

Harutyunyan said at one of the last political council meetings he suggested that at the Mar. 1 rally the opposition coalition should suggest to people on Mar. 9 at 4 pm to begin a hunger strike in Liberty Square and demand pre-term presidential and parliamentary elections.

According to him, this proposal was disputed at the meeting by 5 HAK member parties, led by the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh), which became one of the reasons for him to leave HAK.

Harutyunyan was also displeased that for 3.5 years non stop he attended political council meetings and proposed projects but very few of these were given attention. The politician said he was convinced that it would’ve been possible to implement the declaration adopted by HAK on Aug. 1, 2008, till today if the Armenian National Congress held resolute positions but many, according to Harutyunyan, including HAK leader Levon Ter-Petrossian himself, backed down.

The speaker pointed out that out of three main points in the declaration (to uncover the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Mar. 1–2, 2008; to hold pre-term elections; and to release political prisoners) only one has been carried out so far (the release of political prisoners).