I’ve Been Terrified Since Yesterday, I Didn’t Sleep All Night: Marukyan on Kocharian’s Statement

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated in an interview with Reuters that a strong opposition is forming against the new government of Armenia and that he wishes to be among their ranks. I’ve been terrified since yesterday, I didn’t sleep all night, I don’t know how we will do this, responded Edmond Marukyan, the leader of the Bright Armenia parliamentary faction, mocking Kocharian.

When asked if he thinks it is possible to gather a serious political team and fight back, Marukyan replied, What forces are we talking about? Today there is an opposition, there is a government, and there are quite sharp contrasts. I don’t know in what context they envision the struggle.

Regarding the comment that Robert Kocharian had challenged the government and why Marukyan is terrified, he answered, Because they continuously insist that there is no opposition in Armenia, that’s why. I emphasized that in the process of political normalization in Armenia, a government has been formed, and opposition forces have been established—both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary. If we can proceed with the formation of this new culture and heal the political atmosphere, if not, we will again return to the rhetoric of hatred and its propaganda, and we will obviously face serious problems.