Karapetyan says withdrawal of 105 candidates from Strong Armenia alliance is part of 'secret plan'

Businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia party, said on Thursday that the withdrawal of 105 parliamentary candidates from the Strong Armenia alliance was part of a planned political strategy and not a sign of divisions within the opposition bloc.

"That is part of our secret plan," Karapetyan told reporters before a court hearing when asked to explain why 105 candidates had withdrawn from the alliance's candidate list.

Asked whether the withdrawals reflected a lack of trust in members of his team, Karapetyan rejected the suggestion.

"All of them are our teammates, and they remain our teammates," he said. "They all withstood pressure, so they cannot be considered unreliable. This is our political strategy."

Karapetyan said the move was also intended to protect the candidates from pressure by the authorities.

The Strong Armenia alliance finished second in the June 7 parliamentary elections.