Narek Karapetyan urges preservation of Armenian identity on Republic Day

Opposition politician Narek Karapetyan of the Strong Armenia party marked Republic Day on May 28 with a call to safeguard the national identity and reinforce ties with traditional allies.

Speaking at the Sardarapat Memorial, Karapetyan criticized the military parade at Republic Square as a pre-election show, saying future governments would secure weapons more affordably or through donations. He stressed the need for a stronger security system to protect the country.

Karapetyan also addressed international responses to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, characterizing statements of support from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as troubling. Conversely, he noted that backing from U.S. President Donald Trump carries significant weight given the long-standing friendship between Yerevan and Washington. Looking ahead to the upcoming June 7 elections, Karapetyan expressed strong confidence that a change of power would secure U.S. support for Strong Armenia party leader Samvel Karapetyan.

Referring to economic issues, Karapetyan warned that farmers were suffering losses due to government policies, with crops left unsold and spoiled. He criticized Pashinyan’s attempt to balance relations between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, saying rural communities bore the brunt of the uncertainty.

“Our primary objective right now is to preserve Armenia's national identity,” Karapetyan said. “We must develop the country, create conditions for our compatriots to return and ensure population growth.”

Republic Day commemorates the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918, a milestone celebrated annually with ceremonies and public events.