PM Pashinyan's party: Opposition tried to disrupt Armenia-Azerbaijan peace

On September 8, Hayk Konjoryan, head of the ruling Civil Contract faction, delivered a strong rebuttal in the Armenian Parliament to opposition allegations of political persecution.

Kondjoryan emphasised that the arrested opposition figures are not being prosecuted for political activity, but for plotting a terrorist attack and attempting an armed coup aimed at disrupting the peace process with Azerbaijan, formalised during historic events in Washington on August 8, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Kondjoryan’s remarks came in response to statements by deputies from the Kocharyan-aligned Armenia faction, who described criminal cases against their colleagues as politically motivated. He asserted that the opposition is in “complete bankruptcy” and attempting to “sing old songs” to defend individuals accused of serious crimes.

According to Konjoryan, those the opposition labels as political prisoners are actually accused of “organising terrorism, publicly calling for an armed coup, attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, torching buses, and creating chaos.”

He rhetorically asked what would have happened to the country if the attempted terrorist acts had succeeded, answering that in such a scenario, the August 8 events would not have taken place, the peace agreement would not have been initialled, and the road-opening declaration with Azerbaijan would not have been signed. 

He argued that the opposition’s actions aimed to derail the peace agenda, stage a coup, and turn Armenia into a “puppet state.” Konjoryan concluded that these efforts had failed, proclaiming: “Long live the Republic of Armenia and long live peace!”

Notably, one of the high-profile cases cited by the opposition involves former MP Artur Sargsyan, who faces charges of preparing a terrorist act and attempting to usurp power as part of the “Holy Struggle” movement case.

By Khagan Isayev