YEREVAN. – The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) has returned to its “railway tracks” of 2007.

The director of the Armenian Institute for International and Security Affairs, political analyst Stiopa Safaryan, on Monday described in the aforesaid manner the recent events that have occurred with the PAP.

In his view, the authorities showed PAP ex-Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan who is the real “master” of this political party.

“The PAP is a political force whose electorate are the people who strongly oppose the [ruling] Republican Party [of Armenia (RPA)].

“The PAP was to serve as a buffer [between the halls of power and the opposition] without compromising the authorities, whereas at the end of last year, Gagik Tsarukyan announced about being an opposition. And here [President] Serzh Sargsyan told Tsarukyan: ‘This is not your party; get out!’” Safaryan said.

As per the political analyst, the Armenian authorities have created a precedent, “Gagik Tsarukyan, the businessman,” thus intimidating everyone.

The vice-chairwoman of the opposition Free Democrats Party, Anush Sedrakyan, also agreed with Stiopa Safaryan.

“The so-called ‘safe opposition’ was ruled out with the case of Gagik Tsarukyan,” Sedrakyan added.

As reported earlier, speaking at the February 12 meeting of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Board, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also chairman of the RPA Board, had stated that then-PAP Chairman, MP and oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan had become a vice for the country as a political player. He also relieved the PAP leader from his status as a National Security Council member, and promised that a process will begin in connection with Tsarukyan’s frequent absence from the parliament sessions.

In response to President Sargsyan’s remarks, Gagik Tsarukyan issued a statement, on February 13, noting that the incumbent authorities must be removed from power immediately. In addition, he urged to achieve Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation by way of lawful political methods.

On February 17, however, Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik Tsarukyan held a brokered talk, and on the next day, the then-PAP leader issued a milder statement. He also called off the rally that was slated for February 20.

And on March 5, Tsarukyan announced that he is quitting active politics, PAP National Assembly Faction Secretary Naira Zohrabyan was elected new leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, and she declared the latter—which had been a non-pro-government force—an opposition party.