Samvel Karapetyan says there is a 'secret plan' to oust Pashinyan

Armenian businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Strong Armenia party, said on Tuesday that he and several opposition leaders have held meetings and have a "secret plan" to remove Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from office.

Speaking outside a courthouse, Karapetyan declined to identify the opposition figures involved but said the plan was "realistic."

"We have further steps ahead," Karapetyan said. "We will assess the situation, and whichever path allows us to remove Pashinyan as quickly as possible, that is the one we will choose. We are not going to follow the narratives or advice being promoted today. We are capable of making our own decisions."

Karapetyan said no final decision had been made on accepting or ejecting the parliament seats his party won in the June 7 elections.

Asked about differing opinions expressed by Strong Armenia supporters during a recent meeting, Karapetyan said roughly 40% of supporters remain driven by emotion, with some attempting to provoke the party into rejecting the mandates.

"They want us not to take the mandates," he said. "About 60% have already changed their position. At first, it was the opposite. We will listen to them, but we will make the decision independently. We are capable of making the right decision."