Kocharyan calls for 'civic courage' ahead of June 7 vote

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has called on voters to show “civic courage” in the upcoming June 7 vote, invoking the legacy of the Battle of Sardarapat in a Republic Day message.

In a statement released on Thursday, Kocharyan said Armenians must unite “following the example of Sardarapat” and “through the power of our vote, drive out the enemy that already exists within our country.”

The former president, who is the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition Hayastan alliance in the June 7 elections, drew parallels between the current political climate and the historic 1918 Battle of Sardarapat, widely regarded as a defining moment in Armenia’s modern history, when Armenian forces repelled an Ottoman advance and preserved Armenian statehood.

“At Sardarapat, our nation proved that in difficult times it is capable of uniting and saving its statehood,” Kocharyan said. “It was achieved through heroism, courage and determination.”

He concluded his message by saying that “the best days of our state still lie ahead” and paid tribute to the “heroes of Sardarapat.”