Kocharian's Interview is a Challenge to Armenia's Statehood, MP

Arman Babajanyan, a member of the 'Enlightened Armenia' parliamentary faction, wrote on his Facebook page: 'Accused Kocharian has given an interview to one of the newspapers and predicts active extraparliamentary processes for the upcoming autumn. Although he made a similar prediction for last autumn, Kocharian's interview is a challenge to Armenia's statehood. In his interview, he directly states that he will do everything to take politics to the streets. Kocharian presents himself essentially as a unifier and symbol of anti-revolution.

For Kocharian, politics is the only way to salvation, both in terms of the politicization of the criminal cases against him and preserving his financial assets. Kocharian's interview should serve as a signal for healthy political entities. For the resilience of the country, it is essential that future-oriented political initiatives and forces 'mine' the open segments of the political field, preventing forces and figures that have brought the state and its integrity to the brink of destruction from harboring hopes of return.

The government had the greatest role in this mission, but it has failed and, apparently, will not be able to close the window to the past. The country's number one accused speaks of the consolidation of opposition forces, but it should be noted that the more actively Kocharian appears in the public political domain, the more noticeable the effect of that potential becomes for the public, for the gathering of healthy forces concerned about the country's future.

Being one of the key 'mechanisms' of a quarter-century generator of intensified dangers and challenges between Armenia and Artsakh, Kocharian has turned the instrument of personal protection into a seed of distrust between the republics of Armenia and Artsakh.

It is surprising, even astonishing, to see the lifeless segment with which the chief defendant harbors autumn hopes, who, in turn, view Kocharian as a tool for their revival. The dead become unbearable, while Armenian society steadfastly believes that Kocharian is a criminal and will not allow him new opportunities for looting, killing, persecution, and exploitation of the country.'