Artur Vanetsyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the I’m Honored bloc, on Thursday blamed caretaker PM Nikol Pashinyan for misusing administrative resources.
"Nikol Pashinyan apparently misuses administrative resources. The law enforcement agencies are being used," he told RIA Novosti in an interview.
Vanetsyan claimed that law enforcement officers are trying to intimidate the opposition supporters. "But I believe those times are over, nothing can help Pashinyan extend his grip on power," he said.
Asked whether he thinks Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections could be rigged, Vanetsyan said: "Pashinyan is doing everything possible to win reelection or to remain in power…He is no longer accepted as the prime minister of the country. He is now better known as the "capitulator", who simply handed over our territories, 75% of Artsakh was ceded to Azeris with a single stroke of the pen.”
“Certainly, he will try to rig the elections. But believe me, he will not succeed, we will not allow it. If he takes such a step, the Armenian people will take to the streets and will simply kick him out of his office,” he said.
Vanetsyan underlined he is ready to lead the possible street protests.
“These elections in Armenia are not just elections, it is not about a power struggle between political forces. It is a struggle for the future of Armenia, the country’s existence. I am ready to take every measure for it,” he said.