Opposition party says Pashinyan fears political change

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan fears the political change demanded by citizens and views businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan as a potential challenger, the spokesperson for his Strong Armenia Party said on Friday after a Yerevan court upheld Karapetyan's house arrest.

Mariana Ghahramanyan, the opposition party’s spokesperson, said the decision by the Anti-Corruption Court of Appeals to keep Karapetyan under house arrest would not prevent him from pursuing his political ambitions.

“Pashinyan fears the change that the citizens of Armenia are demanding. He fears one man – Armenia’s future prime minister, Samvel Karapetyan,” she said in a statement.

Ghahramanyan added that “nothing will stop Samvel Karapetyan”, describing the current government as weak and criticizing fragile peace, as well as inadequate economic and security policies.

“We have a weak government, a weak economy, weak security and a temporary fragile peace,” Ghahramanyan said, adding that “the rules of the game will change in three months.”

According to the spokesperson, Armenian voters will soon express their will at the ballot box.

“With their vote, the Armenian people will affirm their desire to live in a strong Armenia,” she said.