YEREVAN. –  Ruling Republican Party of Armenia members appreciate the opinions of former presidents, but they still have their position, spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov said.

“I think it is positive that the first and second presidents, retired ministers have their opinion, and they have right to criticize. We do not live in an authoritarian country, we have a democratic state where retired officials are free to express their views,” he said.

Sharmazanov's remarks came in response to recent critical statements made by second president Robert Kocharyan. In his latest interview with  2rd.am website Kocharyan slammed constitutional reforms.