Yerevan /Mediamax/. Two opposition factions of Armenia’s National Assembly – Armenia and I Have Honor – made a decision not to participate in the election of the president of the republic.

The two factions issued a joint statement which particularly reads:

“The Constitution of Armenia requires that the President of the Republic be impartial, guided by national and pan-national interests. Today Armenia faces serious domestic and external challenges. There is no alternative to national unity and public solidarity.

But this government, which has brought the country to the brink of collapse and divided the society, decided to continue in the same way and be guided not by the state, but only by its narrow team interests.

Although the institution of the President should act as a truly neutral institution and unify the society, the current government has decided to nominate and elect only the President of the Republic committed to their own power.

The international community has remained inactive and silent on the obvious facts of the retreat of democracy, including the formation of a one-man dictatorship.

We have discussed the expediency of nominating a candidate, but in the current situation we consider it unacceptable and wrong to even indirectly participate in the legitimation of that election.

Based on these confirmations, Armenia and I Have Honor factions of the National Assembly have made a decision not to participate in any way in the election of the President of the Republic.”