Armenia’s opposition is gearing up to strongly resist Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s efforts to implement a new constitution demanded by Azerbaijan, as stated by one of its leaders on Wednesday.
Ishkhan Saghatelian, representing the main opposition Hayastan alliance, emphasized their determination to mobilize against a potential constitutional referendum, aiming to transform it into a widespread expression of no confidence in Pashinyan.
“We’ve initiated a series of daily meetings with citizens across different regions to highlight the dangers associated with the proposed constitutional changes,” Saghatelian conveyed to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “We won’t remain passive; soon, we’ll engage with our people on a larger scale. The authorities are assessing public sentiment and will proceed with the referendum only if they sense success. We must ensure they understand the futility of their efforts.”
“If the referendum proceeds, we’ll spare no effort to convert it into a vote of no confidence in Nikol Pashinyan. This scenario could lead to a significant consolidation within Armenia’s opposition,” he added.
Pashinyan recently asserted the necessity for a new constitution aligned with the “evolving geopolitical landscape” of the region. Critics view this move with suspicion, arguing that Pashinyan’s primary aim is to eliminate references in the current constitution to a 1990 declaration of independence, which acknowledges a unification act from 1989 between Soviet Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s insistence on the removal of this reference, for a potential peace deal, has been interpreted by Armenian opposition figures as evidence that Pashinyan is succumbing to pressure from Baku to alter the constitution.
Pashinyan, however, refutes these claims, asserting that Armenia cannot achieve lasting peace while tethered to the 1990 declaration. Critics argue that his conciliatory approach will not deter Azerbaijan from seeking further concessions from Armenia, potentially resorting to military action.
