Mer Dzevov movement urges CSTO to condemn annexation of Armenian territory

Members of the Mer Dzevov (In Our Way) movement have formed a new political party, “Strong Armenia”, and will unveil their platform and a candidate for prime minister at a party congress on Feb. 12, a senior figure said.

Narek Karapetyan, coordinator of the Mer Dzevov movement, told Public TV host Petros Ghazaryan the party would present its vision and leadership choice next month. The movement is led by businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, who is currently detained.

Responding to questions about Karapetyan’s business interests in Russia, Narek Karapetyan said Armenia’s interests would take priority, noting investments beyond Russia and citing historical examples of leaders maintaining independent policies despite overseas assets.

On foreign policy, he said any future Armenian leadership should seek to rebuild ties with regional allies while addressing public doubts about the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) following security incidents near Jermuk.

“Through negotiations, CSTO member states must show our neighbour that annexation, especially of a CSTO member’s territory, is unacceptable,” Karapetyan said. “Only then will Armenian society accept the CSTO as an ally.”

He added that diplomatic pressure should be applied to secure the withdrawal from what he described as Armenian sovereign territories, saying a "strong leader" could achieve that outcome.