Ex-president Kocharyan does not plan to spearhead opposition movement
YEREVAN, March 4. /ARKA/. Armenia's ex-president Robert Kocharyan said today he did not plan to spearhead the Homeland Salvation Movement, an alliance of more than a dozen opposition parties, demanding that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resign.
"The opposition has developed a format and there is no sense in changing it. It has managed to consolidate around itself a noticeable part of our society. I support this format," Kocharyan said at a news conference.
“I support the format that the opposition movement has created, and I don’t think it needs to be revised. Vazgen Manukyan is a worthy man, and he is ready to serve as interim prime minister for a year, if everything goes according to the opposition’s plan," Kocharyan said.
In a related news, Russian President Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov described Kocharyan as a 'friendly' politician, according to RIA Novosti.
Peskov also described as absurd' the allegations that Kocharyan coordinates his actions with Moscow regarding his desire to participate in Armenia's politics.
Earlier, Kocharyan stated that he was ready to participate in early parliamentary elections and again claim the highest post in the country.
"Participants of the political process in Armenia do not need to coordinate their actions with the President of Russia. This is an absolutely absurd formulation of the question. Robert Kocharyan of course, is a great friend of Russia," Peskov said.
"He is a person who has put a lot of effort into the development of his country, and we generally state with satisfaction that the overwhelming majority of Armenian politicians are supporters of further strengthening relations with Russia. This is the main thing for us," Peskov said, specifying that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also belongs to these politicians.
"We are guided by his relevant statements. You know that there is a very active dialogue between him and the Russian president. You know what hard work preceded the signing of the trilateral document that ended the war in Karabakh. Therefore, these relations are really also very valuable," Peskov said. - 0--
