The Armenian speaker, Alen Simonyan, has strongly characterized the majority of the country’s political opposition as “parties of war,” framing the upcoming June parliamentary elections as a critical choice between peace and conflict. These remarks follow similar statements from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in March. Simonyan emphasized the advancements toward peace with Azerbaijan, noting tangible benefits achieved despite the initial treaty signing.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have begun trading for the first time since the Soviet Union’s dissolution, and there have been no fatal border incidents in the last two years. Simonyan asserted that those currently seeking parliamentary seats prioritize war and conflict to advance their political agendas, contrasting this with the “party of peace” represented by the Civil Contract party. He stressed the need to safeguard these peace efforts, warning that they could easily be lost.
The Armenian government has accused prominent opposition parties of threatening this fragile peace. Opposition figures criticize Pashinyan’s handling of the situation, particularly regarding the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the government’s approach to negotiations with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan has promoted the “Real Armenia” concept, advocating for accepting Armenia within its existing borders.
There are currently 19 Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, including former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian parliamentary speaker’s statements highlight the contentious political landscape surrounding the ongoing peace process.
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Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan has firmly labeled the nation’s political opposition as “parties of war,” presenting the forthcoming June parliamentary elections as a pivotal decision bet