Armenian opposition warns of consequences of opening border with Turkey

At a protest action in Yerevan, participants have stated it is pro-government oligarchs who will benefit from the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, while farms, unable to withstand competition in the market with Turkish goods, will go bankrupt.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that every day, the opposition holds protests in Yerevan, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Today, the oppositionists have marched through the central streets, calling on citizens to support the protest movement, the “Yerkir.am” TV Channel reports.

At the rally, Gegam Manukyan, a member of the “Hayastan” Party, a member of the ARF “Dashnaktsutyun”, has stated that the policy of rapprochement with Turkey proceeds from the interests of a narrow circle of oligarchs who support the Nikol Pashinyan’s regime.

Earlier, Akop Arshakyan, the deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament, has stated that Armenia is ready to start normalizing relations with Turkey and open the border without any preconditions. Meanwhile, Armenian political analysts doubt the possibility of normalizing relations with Turkey. The issues of recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the status of Nagorno-Karabakh remain the main ones in the issue of relations with Turkey, residents of Armenia say.

Ishkhan Sagatelyan, the deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament, a member of the ARF “Dashnaktsutyun”, stated that the failed policy of the authorities was the reason for the loss in the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020.