Opposition movement coordinator on why Armenian authorities refuse to go to snap elections

News.am, Armenia
Feb 8 2021

Asked why he thinks the authorities refused to go to snap elections, Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a representative of the Armenia Supreme Body of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party and coordinator of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement, told reporters that the authorities probably tried to understand if they have ratings or not.

Saghatelyan said he’s certain that the authorities had conducted a survey and that this is enough to not go to snap elections and try to maintain power by force. He added that the only way for the authorities to maintain power is to strengthen power, try to repress the judiciary and have strong positions within power structures in this period, but will fail since they don’t assess the situation correctly.

“They clearly understand that they will suffer a crushing defeat during snap elections and will continue to speak on behalf of the people, but citizens didn’t cast their votes for them to come and lead the country to perdition,” he said.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS