Narek Karapetyan warns of intensifying attacks as Armenia nears election season

Narek Karapetyan, coordinator of the Mer Dzevov (Our Way) movement, warned on Monday that political attacks would intensify as Armenia approaches its next election cycle, pledging that his movement would stay focused on its agenda despite growing pressure.

“The closer we get to the pre-election processes, the worse the attacks will become,” Karapetyan said at a meeting with Yerevan residents at Tashir Arena. “They will be more frequent, more unpleasant and more vulgar. We will try to maintain balance and see this path through to the end, because we understand there is no alternative and that change is necessary.”

Karapetyan said Armenian voters have traditionally made electoral choices based on personalities rather than policies, a pattern his movement aims to change.

“A significant part of our society chooses based on individuals — who they like or dislike,” he said. “We want to add something new: that choices are also made based on programmes, that programmes are discussed, and that people later demand results.”

Addressing economic issues, Karapetyan promised large-scale job openings, particularly outside the capital, citing a lack of employment opportunities in the regions.

“Our many visits to the regions have confirmed what statistics already show: there is no work,” he said, adding that around 3,000 companies had closed over the past year, costing an estimated 9,000 jobs in small businesses.

He criticised recent tax increases, arguing that state support had not kept pace. “Your taxes have doubled in recent days. Has the support you receive from the state doubled?” he asked. “Do you get anything from the state besides a nervous look from the tax inspector?”

Karapetyan outlined proposals aimed at easing conditions for entrepreneurs, saying future reforms would ensure that small businesses would face zero taxes and minimal contact with tax authorities.

He also presented plans for agriculture, including guaranteed crop procurement contracts agreed at the start of the year, allowing farmers to focus solely on production. “This will bring revolutionary change to our communities,” he said. “Agriculture will finally become predictable and profitable.”

The meeting reviewed the movement’s upcoming plans and detailed the economic programme known as “Samvel Karapetyan’s Five Steps Toward a Strong Armenia” named after businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan.

The five proposals include creating 300,000 new jobs, mainly in the regions; eliminating taxes for small businesses; reducing medicine prices by 20%; guaranteeing crop procurement in rural areas; and providing 20,000 affordable homes with state support.