YEREVAN. – When the first Constitution was adopted in 1995, it was the first test for Armenia’s democracy and independent Armenia, but the country did not pass this test.

Avetik Ishkhanyan, Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, stated the above-said at a press conference on Tuesday, in connection with Constitution Day in Armenia.

In his words, even though it is declared that there is citizen-authority relations in Armenia, this is actually subject-authority relations.

“I am interested in how the authorities are formed [in Armenia],” added Ishkhanyan.

Reflecting on the fact that, under the most recent constitutional amendments, Armenia is making a transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system of governance, Avetik Ishkhanyan said: “This is a draft for a pseudo-parliamentary constitution.”

“[In] a society which is honest, [where] there is mutual trust, an election can be held with [just] black and white stones, and no one will doubt the lawfulness [of this election],” he added.

In his words, the economic situation in Armenia has grown worse in the past eight years.

“If, under these conditions, our people again vote for the ruling party, sorry [but] our people are insane,” he added.

Avetik Ishkhanyan also expressed confidence that the forthcoming parliamentary election will be rigged, too, and the incumbent authorities will “win” again.