Tsarukyan slams Pashinyan, calls for his removal after June elections

Panorama

Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan strongly criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during campaign stops in Syunik Province on Monday, accusing him of misleading the public and mishandling negotiations that led to territorial losses.

Tsarukyan said Pashinyan “has no program to present to the people” and relies on attacks against critics instead of policy. “That’s how he negotiated and that’s why we ended up in this situation — we’ve had victims, lost lands and now he says three more settlements must be surrendered. That is not peace,” Tsarukyan declared.

He added that Pashinyan seeks to provoke opponents into confrontations, but insisted he responds calmly to criticism. “If a supporter of the Civil Contract party approaches me and criticizes fairly, I accept it. I don’t shout or get angry,” he said, noting that some critics have even apologized after discussions.

Tsarukyan urged voters to ensure Pashinyan “goes to rest” after the June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia.