Karapetyan accuses leadership of abandoning Artsakh Armenians

Opposition candidate Samvel Karapetyan lashed out at Armenia’s leadership during a meeting with intellectuals on Thursday, accusing officials of abandoning the people of Artsakh during the 2023 blockade and mass displacement.

Karapetyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Strong Armenia party, criticized the government for holding a military parade on Republic Day despite a record of failure. “What is there to be proud of after bringing three wars, handing weapons to Aliyev, and abandoning your own people?” he said.

He argued that Artsakh residents endured nine months of blockade without wavering, but could have survived longer if Armenia had provided support to them. “They never stood by the people of Artsakh. If the guarantor fled from the first day, what could those people do?” Karapetyan asked.

Armenia is set to hold parliamentary elections on June 7.