AZE.US
Armenia is approaching elections that could affect not only its domestic politics, but also the future of the peace process with Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani lawmaker Rasim Musabekov said.
Speaking in an interview with the YouTube channel Barvinenko, Musabekov said Moscow’s real political bet in Armenia is not businessman Samvel Karapetyan, but former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.
According to Musabekov, Karapetyan is not an independent political figure and cannot become prime minister because he has Russian citizenship and has not lived continuously in Armenia for the past five years.
He said the real objective of such political projects is to deprive Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of a parliamentary majority and then bring Kocharyan back into power.
Musabekov described Kocharyan as a “political bandit” and said his negative rating in Armenia is far higher than his level of support.
He argued that many Armenians may be disappointed in Pashinyan, but Kocharyan remains an unacceptable alternative for a large part of society.
According to Musabekov, Armenia is now facing a choice between war and peace. He said even Kocharyan would likely understand that Armenia cannot start a war against Azerbaijan on its own without suffering a quick defeat.
But if Moscow gives the signal, Musabekov warned, revanchist forces could again “throw Armenians into the meat grinder.”
He said Pashinyan still has a chance to secure the necessary majority if he takes his current political line to the end.
Musabekov added that Armenia’s economic situation, rising living standards and the presence of certain freedoms also work in Pashinyan’s favor.
AZE.US