YEREVAN. – It is not that good when the country “lives” without a political opposition, Caucasus Institute Director, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan stated during a press conference on Thursday. 

In his words, the current situation in Armenia does not inspire any optimism.

“There is no alternative to the [ruling] Republican Party of Armenia,” the analyst noted, and added that some influential political forces did not introduce their candidates during the presidential election. 

As for the opposition Heritage Party, according to Iskandaryan, this party “is not a significant opposition force.”  

Reflecting on the votes received by Heritage’s chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian—who was 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—, Alexander Iskandaryan noted that Hovannisian was unable to “convert the votes he received.”   

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am