YEREVAN. – The path chosen by Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian—who is declared runner-up to the winner, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential election that was conducted on February 18, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote and who declared a hunger strike on March 10 at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square—is incomprehensible for the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC). Social-Democratic Hnchakyan Party (SDHP) Chairwoman, ANC National Assembly Faction member Lyudmila Sargsyan said this during a press conference on Tuesday.   

“What the people at Liberty Square expect will not be justified. It is also wrong when Raffi Hovannisian transforms the post-election processes into pre-election [ones] and deprives himself from not recognizing the results of the presidential vote,” Sargsyan noted.

Reflecting on the letter-based correspondence between Serzh Sargsyan and Raffi Hovannisian, she expressed a view that even though this may be a new culture, it cannot end triumphantly.  

“I believe this correspondence and those demands Raffi Hovannisian presented are unrealistic, and he likewise understands very well that the authorities will never give up the domains which he demands from Serzh Sargsyan, since these are the domains based on which he [that is, President Sargsyan] is able to keep power. And demanding unrealistic things means being rejected and, subsequently, going ahead with smaller demands. I do not consider this to be a concession but, ultimately, it will turn into political trading and bargaining. [And] as a result, we will see a deep disappointment by our people,” Lyudmila Sargsyan argued.         

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am