Twelve Armenian opposition political forces have announced a nationwide unity initiative following a meeting at the home of detained Strong Armenia leader Samvel Karapetyan.
The meeting took place on the evening of November 4. Narek Karapetyan, head of the Strong Armenia faction, said the participants had adopted a joint declaration setting out four shared priorities, Factor.am reports.
Despite differences in their political positions, the signatories agreed to cooperate on the following objectives:
- Rejecting what they describe as the imposition of “Aliyev’s constitution.”
- Pursuing peace without unilateral concessions or territorial losses.
- Protecting national identity and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
- Restoring democratic rights and freedoms.
“We, the undersigned political forces of Armenia, recognizing the full gravity of the fateful challenges facing the Armenian people and Armenian statehood, and despite differences in our approaches and disagreements on a number of issues, hereby announce the formation of a nationwide unity initiative,” the declaration states.
The signatories pledged to coordinate their efforts to promote public solidarity around what they consider overriding national priorities and called on other political forces, public figures and civic leaders to join the initiative.
The declaration was endorsed by the Armenia Alliance, Strong Armenia Alliance, Hayakve (Armenian Vote), Country to Live Party, Prosperous Armenia Party, Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Heritage Party, Together, Democratic Alternative, New Era and United Armenians.
The announcement came amid criminal proceedings involving Samvel Karapetyan. The Investigative Committee has reported initiating criminal prosecutions against 36 individuals in a case concerning alleged damage of approximately 64.6 billion drams to Electric Networks of Armenia, large-scale misappropriation of entrusted property and money laundering.
According to investigators, the alleged group operated under the direction of a person identified by the initials “S.K.” The committee did not publicly identify that individual in its statement. Searches were conducted at 65 addresses, including Karapetyan’s residence, and investigators issued detention orders for individuals facing prosecution.
