Armenia must reform the system of power by limiting the powers of the prime minister. The second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, stated this in an exclusive interview with RBC television of Russia.

According to Kocharyan, the model of a parliamentary republic is unsuccessful for Armenia. "No president of Armenia has had as many powers as the prime minister of Armenia; this is simply unacceptable," he said. "It simply is not reasonable to talk about a parliamentary republic; this, in my view, was a wrong step. I believe we [Armenia] should take at least a step or half a step back."

As per the ex-president of Armenia, the latter’s prime minister should not have as many powers as now. "As these authorities are virtually unbalanced. All the restraints and balances that should simply be in the system of state power have been broken," Kocharyan added.

According to the former head of the Armenian state, however, a new order of change must be done carefully. "Carefully. But it is necessary to take some steps in this direction; it is simply necessary at least to reduce the personal power of the prime minister. Law enforcement agencies should not be subject to the prime minister personally; it's just a disgrace!"

The second president reminded that when he was the leader of Armenia, the latter’s constitution was also amended. In particular, people were allowed to have dual citizenship, the procedure for obtaining Armenian citizenship was simplified, and this enabled many Armenians living abroad to obtain it.

The constitution, however, still prohibits dual citizenship for high-ranking officials. Kocharyan noted that these restrictions should be only in the sphere of law enforcement agencies and security, and these restrictions are not needed in terms of working for other state departments. "That is, we are cutting a certain potential that can work for the benefit of the country," Robert Kocharyan said.