Armenia’s opposition forces to hold rally on February 20, Vazgen Manukyan continues to be their candidate

Six leaders of Movement of Salvation of Homeland – Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan, third president Serzh Sargsyan, PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan, ARF-D Supreme Body member Ishkhan Saghatelyan, candidate for PM post Vazgen Manukyan and leader of Homeland party Artur Vanetsyan – met yesterday.

Homeland party spokesperson Sos Hakobyan told Aysor.am that the movement will continue its activity at large scale.

“We will intensify the street fight,” he noted, adding that their movement excludes cooperation with the authorities.

Asked whether they discussed the possibility of replacing the PM candidate, Hakobyan said he does not posses such information.

Republican party spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov said such discussion did not take place.

“The movement will continue its activity to reach people’s desire – removal of the authorities. Vazgen Manukuan continues to be our candidate,” Sharmazanov said.

He stressed that they are not going to discuss any issue with the current regime except the issue of their resignation.

“Today the chief issue of the Movement of Salvation of Homeland, citizens concerned with the fate of the state must be removal of Nikol Pashinyan, the other agendas are not priority,” he said.

The issue of snap elections is not on the agenda. Sharmazanov said until Pashinyan is in power it is absurd to speak of fair, ideological competition.

He stressed that Pashinyan’s remaining in power every hour creates new disaster for the state.

RPA spokesperson said they are convinced that together with the people they will reach Pashinyan’s resignation.

“Nikol Pashinyan does not have power, he has been cut from the reality. This is not fight for power, for mandate, this is a fight for salvation of homeland. Today two forces – Azerbaijani and Turkish – do not allow Pashinyan to step down. We will have new wars until Pashinyan is in power,” Sharmazanov said.

ARF-D Supreme Body member Ishkhan Saghatelyan said that their agenda has remained unchanged. He stressed that Vazgen Manukyan is their candidate and his replacement has not been discussed.

Saghatelyan stressed yesterday they did not discuss the issue of participating in snap elections.

“We have discussed the programs on going out of the situation created in the country and removing this treacherous authorities. The prior issue on our agenda is removal of Nikol Pashinyan. With the help of people’s pressure we will succeed,” Saghatelyan said.

He also said they will hold a rally on February 20.