Armenian analyst says debate is over peace models, not war

Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections should be seen as a choice between different models of peace rather than a stark war-versus-peace dilemma, political analyst Suren Surenyants claims.

In a social media post on Wednesday, he accused the government of framing the vote as a false binary to stoke fear and shut down debate. “What is offered today is a peace format built on unilateral concessions, constant threats of force and new demands under the guise of peace," Surenyants wrote, warning that such an approach risks fresh crises.

Instead, he stressed the need for “guaranteed peace”, agreements backed by international guarantees, legal mechanisms and monitoring systems, arguing that small states cannot rely on declarations alone when faced with power imbalances. He linked this vision to businessman Gagik Tsarukyan’s Proposal to Armenia program, describing it as a manifesto for guaranteed peace.

Surenyants said external accords must be matched by internal resilience, including political consensus, rule of law and effective governance. Economic strength, he added, is central to sovereignty, diplomacy and defense, noting Armenia’s reliance on the Eurasian Economic Union market but urging a multi-vector policy with Western, Asian and Middle Eastern partners.

He also highlighted the strategic importance of new transport routes through Georgia, Russia and Iran, saying they reduce dependency and raise Armenia’s regional value.

The analyst stated guaranteed peace is not only a diplomatic framework but also a social condition, where citizens can plan their lives with confidence and in stability.