Taking up mandates does not mean recognizing the legitimacy of the current authorities: Samvel Karapetyan

According to Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the “Strong Armenia” party, his political force’s participation in parliament does not mean recognizing the legitimacy of the current authorities.

“By taking up parliamentary mandates, we are not recognizing the legality of the current authorities, since they themselves refused to confirm their own legitimacy by rejecting the holding of new elections,” Samvel Karapetyan stressed.

He also recalled his promise from June 18 to create a coordinating council of the united opposition and establish direct communication with society. According to the politician, the process has already begun and is developing according to the planned schedule.

“We have already made a joint statement with five opposition forces, and we’ve had responses from others as well. When we deem it necessary, an opposition platform will be formed. We are moving forward step by step, which is why we decided to go into parliament,” said the leader of the “Strong Armenia” bloc.

Responding to journalists’ questions about his earlier statement that he would become prime minister if Aram Vardevanyan, the opposition’s representative on the Constitutional Court, “steps on the gas,” Karapetyan added: “Vardevanyan has exceeded all my expectations and has done more than I counted on, but facing him was a ‘Zaporozhets’, no matter how much gas you give it, it still won’t be able to move.”