Armenian opposition to boycott 'peace statement' debate

The opposition Hayastan faction will boycott today's parliament debate on a draft statement authored by the ruling Civil Contract party concerning peace with Azerbaijan.

In a statement, the faction said the proposal has “no relation to real peace”, accusing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party of misleading the public and undermining state institutions.

Hayastan argued the draft statement ignores key issues, including the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenian territory, the release of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, the safe return of displaced Artsakh Armenians and protection of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The faction said it will not take part in what it called an “anti-Armenian agenda”, stressing the document “does not reflect the collective will of Armenia and its people".