We will cooperate with new political forces that have clean record – Avetik Chalabyan

The “Hayakve” civic association announced on February 18 that it will participate in the 2026 parliamentary elections. The political association prefers to take part in the elections together with like-minded forces, in a united front. They consider participation through large ideological alliances imperative, in order to prevent the continuation of Pashinyan’s government.

Speaking to Alpha News about the format of participation in the elections, cooperation with other opposition forces, being an alternative to Pashinyan’s party, as well as Hayakve’s programs and priorities, the coordinator of the association, Avetik Chalabyan, noted:

“We do not want to see a repeat of 2021, when the votes of 20% of citizens who participated in the elections were scattered to the benefit of the government.

We must no longer allow the people’s votes to be scattered. We need to participate through large alliances, so that each major electoral segment has one clear or more choices. People should understand that this is the center of strength, and it will be easier for them to make a choice. Citizens should not be forced into artificial choices. If we are close in the ideological field, disagreements must be overcome, a common ground reached, and people given the opportunity for a united choice,” Avetik Chalabyan said.

The “Hayakve” association rules out cooperation with the ruling “Civil Contract” party and its satellite forces.

Chalabyan did not specify which forces they are negotiating with about participating in the elections as a united front, but emphasized that they will cooperate with new political forces.

“Our field of cooperation is those newly emerged forces that have a clean record, a national character, and no marked cooperation with either the former or current regime,” Avetik Chalabyan said.

Referring to statements by ruling party MPs that there will be no “Gyumri-2 operation” in the elections scheduled for June 7, Chalabyan noted: “How do you know there won’t be a Gyumri-2? Will you ban it, shoot at people, what will you do—remove political forces from the elections? If you exclude us from the elections, we will immediately give our votes to another opposition wing, so that not a single vote is lost.”