The Price of Political Short-sightedness is Paid by Ordinary People: Abovyan on the Situation in Armenia

People mistakenly believe that if they close their eyes and ignore the enormous dangers facing our country, these problems will cease to exist. This was stated by the candidate for deputy from the Prosperous Armenia Party, Arman Abovyan.

“Gagik Tsarukyan’s recent message from prison essentially reflects the terrible reality that surrounds us, and unfortunately, many are trying to escape from it. It is understandable; people mistakenly think that if they close their eyes and ignore the enormous dangers facing our country, these problems will simply disappear. But they are wrong. And the price of that mistake could be processes that will confront all of us with inevitable shocks,” he noted.

In essence, Tsarukyan is stating that if the new National Assembly does not have a substantive program to overcome the crisis, the situation could go out of control. It is no coincidence that in his message from prison, he reminds us that he and his team (of which I have the honor to be a member) participated in the elections with the “Proposal for Armenia” program. The main goal of that program was to establish a political and economic course for the country that would allow us to neutralize existing dangers and place Armenia on the path of stability, security, and economic development.

Today, the question is not even who is to blame. The most important question is one: what to do? How to extract Armenia from the geopolitical trap we have led ourselves into, blinded by hatred and division?

While in prison and under pressure, Tsarukyan constantly repeats a simple truth: we do not have the right to become a battlefield between Russia and Europe, the USA and Iran. We do not have the right to build our relationships with allies and partners in such a way that one day we will be forced to choose based on the principle of “either-or.”

Undoubtedly, the tension around the artificially created choice between the EAEU and the European Union is a direct result of policies that are converting Armenia into part of a global confrontation. Tsarukyan argues that there has been and cannot be any rational explanation for the consistent policy that creates centers of tension in our relationships with allies and partners. The consequences are borne by ordinary people, who today are paying the price for the shortsightedness of politicians, suffering losses in jobs, income, and means of livelihood.

Moreover, when we factor in Turkey's and Azerbaijan's ongoing hostile policies aimed at weakening our country as much as possible, the prospects opening before us are extremely concerning. Tsarukyan rightly points out that it is no longer possible to ‘sit on two chairs.’ It is necessary to establish a system of relations with the world in which no one can speak to Armenia in ultimatum language.

We do not have the right to become bargaining chips or a battlefield between the West and the East. Is it possible to correct the situation? Certainly, yes. Is it possible to neutralize existing dangers? Undoubtedly, yes. It only remains to assess the situation soberly and draw conclusions.