Media: Armenia’s ruling faction split ahead of elections after MP Sargsyan’s remarks

Armenian newspaper Zhoghovurd has reported growing tensions within the ruling Civil Contract faction, highlighting internal divisions following recent remarks by lawmaker Hayk Sargsyan.

Statements made by Sargsyan during a parliamentary defence and security committee session, and later at a media briefing, have raised concerns among the faction’s leadership, Caliber.Az reports, citing the newspaper.

Sargsyan publicly accused Andranik Kocharyan and Defence Minister Suren Papikyan, pointing to what he described as serious problems within the army.

Sources cited by the newspaper say his remarks exceeded what is considered acceptable within party lines and have since been discussed at multiple levels of government.

The lawmaker also indirectly blamed Alen Simonyan, Speaker of the National Assembly, for the failure of his initiatives, stating that he had been told: “you bring the prime minister down on us.” Through this remark, Sargsyan suggested he enjoys the backing of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, while implying that Simonyan faces no consequences.

The report notes emerging divisions within the faction: some lawmakers support Sargsyan, others view his statements as inappropriate ahead of elections, while a third group believes Kocharyan and Simonyan should be held accountable for internal party conflicts.

Sargsyan has openly claimed in his speeches that he is supported by the prime minister and alleges that an internal campaign is being waged against him by Simonyan and Kocharyan.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov