Armenian political analyst says crackdown on opponents reflects government weakness

An Armenian political analyst said the government's actions against political opponents indicate weakening political legitimacy and predicted that pressure on critics and independent media could intensify.

In an interview with Panorama.am on Tuesday, political analyst Stepan Danielyan argued that governments facing declining public support often resort to measures against their opponents.

"History shows that when governments become weaker, they may manipulate elections, public perceptions of their legitimacy decline, and pressure against political opponents begins," Danielyan said. "If a government is legitimate and strong, it has no need for repression. On the contrary, it benefits from the existence of an opposition because it demonstrates political competition and freedom of speech."

Danielyan said it was not coincidental that pressure against political opponents increased during the recent parliamentary elections, arguing that it reflects serious legitimacy challenges facing Armenia's current government.

He also predicted that the trend would continue.

"The government's position is becoming weaker," Danielyan said. "Armenia is facing a range of geopolitical demands from international actors, many of which contradict one another, and the current authorities face serious difficulties in responding to them."

Danielyan said he believes media organizations could become the next target of government pressure.

He also said Armenia's opposition should adopt a political strategy that is understandable both to the Armenian public and the country's international partners.