Tatoyan calls for strong opposition role in June 7 elections

Opposition candidate Arman Tatoyan said on Monday that Armenia’s statehood depends on ensuring a strong presence of genuine opposition parties in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7.

Tatoyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Wings of Unity party, told reporters he was taken aback by recent remarks of Strong Armenia party leader Samvel Karapetyan, who dismissed polling results that showed Tatoyan gaining support.

“I was surprised, because that statement harms the political force,” Tatoyan said. “My wish is that all real opposition forces enter parliament and gain as many votes as possible. That is good for our state.”

He emphasized that the vote is a defining moment for Armenia’s sovereignty. “These elections are about our statehood which must prevail. We are at the most sensitive line of preserving Armenian statehood and we must not deviate from that path,” Tatoyan said.

Karapetyan had earlier criticized a Gallup survey, saying, “Yes, they pushed Tatoyan through. For them, the most important thing was to get Tatoyan across.”