Armenian opposition bloc to take parliament seats

The opposition Hayastan (Armenia) alliance says it will take up its parliament seats while continuing the struggle against the ruling regime, saying relinquishing its mandates would be "irresponsible" toward the state and the voters who backed the opposition.

The statement came after the Constitutional Court on Saturday upheld the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, rejecting opposition petitions seeking to annul the vote.

In a statement released on Monday, Hayastan said the ruling did not address electoral irregularities or resolve issues regarding the government's legitimacy, insisting the authorities "lack legitimacy."

The alliance said its court challenge was aimed at contesting the validity of the votes attributed to the ruling Civil Contract party, not the opposition's own electoral support. It said the support it received from more than 550,000 voters obliges it to use every available political and legal mechanism to pursue its objectives.

"Parliamentary office is not a privilege or a position of comfort for us," the alliance said. "It is an additional political and legal instrument. A mandate is a weapon, and voluntarily surrendering it would be irresponsible toward the state and our voters."

Hayastan said it views its parliamentary presence as a means of defending citizens' rights, raising public concerns, engaging with international partners and presenting alternative positions in international forums, while helping organize broader public resistance.

The alliance said its parliamentary agenda will focus on preventing constitutional amendments it believes would undermine Armenia's sovereignty, defending the Armenian Apostolic Church, advocating for the rights of political prisoners as well as Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku, and ultimately seeking the removal of the current government.

Hayastan said the court's ruling "is not the end of the struggle but the beginning of a new, more systematic phase," adding that it would continue its political campaign both inside and outside parliament.