Return of Robert Kocharyan to power would be bad scenario - NA  vice-speaker

ArmInfo. The return of second President Robert Kocharyan to power with the help of two  oligarchs would be a bad development. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan told reporters on February 24, commenting on the possibility of a repeat of the Gyumri scenario during the general parliamentary elections on June 7.

It should be noted that such a possibility had previously been  discussed, whereby, following the election results, the opposition  forces that made it into parliament would cast their votes in favor  of one candidate or another, in this case, Robert Kocharyan.

Ruben Rubinyan noted that no one is talking about the possibility of  forming blocs in the post-election process, which is not a crime.  Moreover, such a development is envisaged by Armenian law. The crime,  according to the MP, is pre-election bribery. In any case, the  vice-speaker continued, the return of the second president of the  Republic of Armenia to power with the help of two oligarchs is a bad  development of events, and this must be prevented. "But if the  elections were held fairly, such a development wouldn't be a crime,  although it would be a very bad thing.

For example, according to the Gyumri elections, Vardanik (mayor  Vardan Ghukasyan - ed.) was elected as a result of cooperation  between forces led by Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, and some  pro-Russian oligarchs. This in itself isn't a crime, but just six  months later, Vardanik was arrested on bribery charges.  What  difference would it make if Robert Kocharyan and the two oligarchs,  divided into different blocs, were able to secure a majority of the  votes and come to power? Obviously, if such a development were to  occur, they, as they did during their rule, would not allow law  enforcement agencies to continue their work.  Therefore, such a  development must be prevented. The only way to prevent such a  scenario is for the country's citizens to give these forces zero  votes," Ruben Rubinyan said, adding that no one wants A repeat of the  second president's rule.

He expressed hope that after the elections, the currently ruling  Civil Contract party will secure a constitutional majority, and that  Robert Kocharyan and both oligarchs will be ousted from the political  scene. "I've said it before and I'll say it again: their goal is to  repeat the Gyumri scenario," the deputy speaker noted, adding that  the authorities have no concerns about the opposition uniting into  two or three strong blocs, but that citizens must understand what's  happening in the political arena.