The Armenian authorities appear to be preparing the information and propaganda ground to limit the participation of opposition forces in the elections. This was stated by constitutional expert Vardan Poghosyan.
According to him, it cannot be ruled out that attempts will be made to use various mechanisms against the most popular opposition force in order to prevent its participation in the elections.
From Registration to Invalidation: Possible Scenarios
The constitutional expert noted that the Electoral Code mainly sets formal requirements, and denying registration outright may be difficult even for the current authorities. However, the most dangerous stage may be the period of the pre-election campaign.
He explained that even the smallest violations during this period could be used as grounds for the Central Election Commission to declare the registration of an opposition force invalid or null and void, if such decisions are made under the influence of the authorities.
Poghosyan also stressed the importance of unity in the opposition field, especially in the period leading up to June 7. In his assessment, it would be a mistake if any opposition force believes that the possible removal of a competitor from the race would increase its own chances.
“If they remove one from the race, you will be next,” he warned, emphasizing that such an approach could lead to key opposition players not participating in the elections at all.
The Main Task Facing the Opposition
According to the constitutional expert, opposition forces are currently actively engaged in criticizing the policies of the authorities, pointing out mistakes made in recent years in various spheres and their consequences.
However, he stressed that this is not enough. It is much more important for opposition parties to provide clear and convincing answers to the key questions about Armenia’s future.
Poghosyan assessed that the country faces complex realities: a weakened statehood, Azerbaijan’s continuing territorial claims, displaced Artsakh Armenians, and the absence of real allies.
Under these conditions, he said, the opposition must not only criticize, but also present a clear vision of how it sees the path of Armenia’s development. He noted that such attempts already exist, but they need to be made more concrete in order to overcome the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in society, which, in his opinion, has been created as a result of the current authorities’ policies.