Samvel Karapetyan calls for opposition unity after disputed elections

Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia alliance, on Thursday announced an initiative to unite Armenia’s opposition forces following the country’s June 7 parliamentary elections, which he described as deeply flawed and lacking public confidence.

Speaking before an interview with a group of editors, Karapetyan alleged that the electoral process was compromised at every stage, from the pre-election campaign to voting and the subsequent tabulation of ballots.

“The Armenian people have once again suffered a defeat — one that I believe is temporary,” Karapetyan said. “The authorities demonstrated to the world how elections should not be conducted.”

Karapetyan claimed that election administration had been mishandled throughout the process and pointed to the temporary suspension of vote counting as a development that raised serious questions about the credibility of the final results.

He alleged that the interruption fueled concerns that the count may have been manipulated to benefit the ruling Civil Contract party.

The opposition figure also acknowledged that anti-government parties had entered the election divided, arguing that the lack of coordination among opposition groups contributed to their inability to mount a more effective challenge.

“We made a mistake before the election by failing to consolidate our efforts,” Karapetyan said. “Many opposition forces fought sincerely but overestimated their individual strength. Today, unity has become a national necessity.”

He announced the start of a broad opposition consolidation process and expressed confidence that political groups committed to Armenia’s future would join a post-election coalition aimed at coordinating strategy and political action.

Karapetyan proposed the creation of a coordinating council that would operate transparently and hold public discussions, including live broadcasts, to address disagreements among opposition parties and develop a unified agenda.

A key issue facing the opposition, he said, is whether elected opposition candidates should take their parliament seats. Karapetyan argued that the decision should be based on which course of action would more effectively challenge Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government.

“The Strong Armenia alliance is prepared for either option,” he said. “What matters is choosing the path that best serves the interests of the country.”

Karapetyan accused the government of concentrating power and warned against unilateral decision-making on matters of national importance, including constitutional reform and relations with neighboring Azerbaijan.

He further called for engagement with international actors, saying the opposition would seek to present its concerns to officials in the United States, Europe, Russia and China, as well as to diplomats and representatives of international organizations stationed in Armenia.

The opposition leader also announced plans for a major rally in the coming weeks, saying the event would demonstrate the level of public support for a unified opposition movement.