Thousands attended a campaign rally in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on April 11 organized by the “Strong Armenia with Samvel Karapetyan” alliance in the run-up to Armenia’s June parliamentary election.
Karapetyan, a businessman holding Russian and Cypriot citizenship, was detained in June 2025 on charges of calling for a coup after criticizing the Armenian government’s actions regarding the Armenian Apostolic Church. He remains under house arrest.
Karapetyan’s pre-recorded “Speech for Change” message to his supporters was broadcast on large screens installed in the square.
In his message, he accused Nikol Pashinyan’s government of keeping Armenia in a state of poverty, war, fear, and internal division. “Together, we are a force that will bring change, and this force cannot be stopped,” Karapetyan said.
Due to dual citizenship restrictions preventing him from being prime minister, his nephew, Narek Karapetyan, has been selected as the party’s candidate for the post.
The alliance includes two minor forces – the New Era Party and the United Armenians Party.
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