Armenian opposition MP says government change is needed to end political pressure

Armenian opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan claims that the country's main political challenge is achieving a change of government, arguing that only such a shift can prevent escalating political pressure against opposition figures.

Speaking outside the Investigative Department of Armenia's State Revenue Committee, where businessman and Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan was being questioned for a second time on Friday, he said the campaign against Tsarukyan had unfolded in several stages.

According to Abrahamyan, the first stage consisted of aggressive, personalized attacks on him during the election campaign. The second involved actions that, he claimed, unlawfully prevented the Prosperous Armenia Party from entering parliament. The latest phase, he said, is marked by political pressure accompanied by an effort to redistribute property.

Tsarukyan was detained on charges of large-scale money laundering and fraud. He has denied the allegations, calling the case politically motivated.

Abrahamyan also criticized the international community's silence, arguing that it reflects the attitude of external actors toward political developments in Armenia. He said the situation sends a troubling message to investors by creating the perception that property rights can be restricted or confiscated whenever the authorities deem it politically expedient.

He further alleged that criminal cases brought against opposition figures, including businessman Samvel Karapetyan and former presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan, are politically motivated, stating law enforcement agencies are acting on political orders.

Abrahamyan argued that the government's objective had been to block the Prosperous Armenia Party from entering parliament and to demonstrate that any political force challenging the authorities would face consequences, regardless of its influence or public standing.

Turning to the opposition's strategy, Abrahamyan said it must focus on addressing the root cause of the country's political crisis rather than merely responding to its consequences.

"The main issue that can prevent these developments in the country is simply a change of government," he said.

Abrahamyan argued that the opposition must rethink its strategy after recent political developments, saying parliamentary activity alone is insufficient to bring about political change. He called for parliamentary activity and street protests to be coordinated and said opposition forces should unite around a common strategic agenda despite tactical differences.