YEREVAN. – The statement by the off-parliament opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) head, Armenia’s First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan does not inspire the ARF Dashnaksutyun, ARFD MP Artsvik Minasyan said at a parliament briefing on Friday. His statement came after the ANC head had said that it is better for the state to be run by ARF Dashnaksutyun or the Communist Parties, as they are not robbers like ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

To note, Ter-Petrosyan has generally had cold attitude towards the ARFD and the party was even banned in Armenia during his office.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun is one of the oldest Armenian political parties. It was founded in the end of 19th century.

Following the Sovietization of Armenia in 1920, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun was banned by the Communists and its leadership exiled. The ARF-Dashnaktsutyun officially re-emerged in Armenia after the collapse of the USSR, in 1990.

In June 2003, the party signed a coalition memorandum with the Republican Party of Armenia and Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law). However, in 2009 ARFD left the coalition in protest against signing the protocols with Turkey. 

Party’s proportional list includes 85 candidates. Eight candidates will run for an MP seat with majority system. The party’s motto is ‘Freedom, Justice, Dashnaktsutyun.’