Armenia’s institutional system strong enough to prevent any coup attempt, PM says

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that the country’s law enforcement and institutional systems are strong enough to prevent any coup attempt, commenting on former President Robert Kocharyan’s remarks about the possibility of a “revolution” if victory is “stolen” from him in the June 7 elections.

“The law enforcement and institutional system of Armenia is sufficiently established to crush any coup attempt in its infancy,” the Prime Minister said at a press briefing when asked to comment on the ex-president’s remarks. Kocharyan is running for parliament with his Armenia Alliance.

Pashinyan, who leads the ruling Civil Contract party’s re-election bid, said it was pointless to comment on Kocharyan’s perceptions about winning elections.

“If Robert Kocharyan has lost his sense of reality to such an extent that he thinks he can win parliamentary elections in the Republic of Armenia, then I consider any comment on that pointless. One can only pity the man,” he said.