Yesterday I published a video where I said something very simple. the claim that if the opposition does not take the mandates, Nikol Pashinyan will give them to forces that have not passed the electoral threshold is an absolutely false thesis.

I considered it such a blow to the legitimacy of the elections that I absolutely ruled out such a scenario. Not because I trust Nikol Pashinyan, but because I don’t think that he will take a step that will collapse one of his main political and propaganda pillars, the story about the legitimacy of the elections.

It was in that context that I said the following thought. “Nikol Pashinyan will not break a red line for himself.”

In other words, he will not shoot himself in the foot and destroy the foundations of his own political positioning in the issues that are of fundamental political importance to him, and introducing the forces that have not overcome the electoral threshold by any magic into the National Assembly will put his legitimacy in doubt.

Now I see that some circles are publishing heartbreaking and sad texts, manipulating what I said and trying to present it with a completely different content.

Let me ask you questions about your logic: You say that Nikol Pashinyan has no red lines and can falsify the elections.

In that case, I have a few very simple questions.

Question one. When did that belief emerge: in 2021 or only in 2026?

Second question. If you were convinced that he could rig the elections in 2021, then why did you participate in those elections? And why did you participate now?

Question three. Why did you enter the parliament based on the results of 2021? Were those elections rigged or not? Have you appealed to the Court of Justice?

Question four. If they were forged, why did you take the mandates? If they were not forged, do you consider them legitimate?

Question five. What is the political assessment of the 2026 elections? Are they fake or not?

Question six. If they are falsified, then why are you discussing whether or not to take a mandate? What is there to discuss?

Question seven. If you decide to take the mandates tomorrow, how will you explain it to your voters? And if you don’t take it, what is your plan of action?

While there are no answers to these questions, it would be good to spend less time rewriting other people’s words and more time to finalize your own political logic. I think people are tired of pseudo-patriotic speeches full of pathos and demand objective answers from you. Do not shift the burden from yourself to others.

PS: tell your supporters not to come and appear here and say that you are the author of the new constitution. You are using the thesis of the author of that new constitution as a lifeline right now.

Former RA Minister of Justice Arpine Hovhannisyan

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