On April 4, the 18th Congress of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) took place, with party chairman and Armenia’s third president, Serzh Sargsyan, delivering a keynote address.
In his speech, Sargsyan reaffirmed that the RPA will not participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7. He stressed that the party’s priority lies not in winning parliamentary seats, but in pursuing deeper political transformation. “I also know another truth, and I reaffirm it from this podium today: what we need is a regime change,” he declared. “We are not concerned with the prospect of having a few seats in parliament. The years behind us have only further confirmed the soundness of this decision.”
Despite opting out of direct participation in the elections, Sargsyan assured that the Republican Party will remain actively engaged in the political arena. He emphasized that the RPA will continue to play a central role in ongoing developments and serve as one of the leading forces in the broader political struggle.
Call for Coordinated Opposition Action During Major International Summits
Sargsyan also put forward a proposal to opposition forces ahead of two significant international events set to take place in Yerevan on May 4–5: the European Political Community summit, followed by the first Armenia–EU summit.
He urged opposition groups to coordinate their efforts during these high-level gatherings, which will bring dozens of senior international delegations to the Armenian capital. Within the framework of the law and European political norms, they should use the opportunity to present what he called the “full reality” of Armenia’s democratic situation.
“During these events, trust us with the task of developing and implementing joint initiatives,” Sargsyan said. “What the current regime has planned as a pre-election celebration should and can become an opportunity to present the bitter reality of our country ahead of the elections, a moment of truth.”
He framed the upcoming summits as a strategic window for the opposition to influence international perceptions of Armenia’s internal political climate.
Mobilizing Voters Under the Slogan “Go So That They Go”
Although the party will not field candidates, Sargsyan announced that the RPA will focus on increasing public participation in the June 7 nationwide elections. From the day of the congress until election day, the party’s activities will be conducted under the slogan “Go so that they go,” aimed at mobilizing voters through various initiatives.
These efforts will include campaign activities, information campaigns, and direct engagement with citizens via meetings held across the country. Sargsyan underlined that the main goal during this period is to actively encourage Armenian citizens to take part in the voting process.
Firm Stance Against Any “Corridor” on Sovereign Territory
In a strong statement on territorial integrity, Sargsyan declared that the RPA will never accept the existence of any corridor through Armenia’s sovereign territory, no matter how it is disguised or presented.
“Whatever name they give it, this is the century-old dream of our unfriendly neighbors, which they do not even hide,” he said. “We will not reconcile with the existence of any ‘corridor’ through our sovereign territory, no matter how cunningly they try to mislead us by claiming it is ‘not a corridor.’ It in no way implies the unblocking of Armenia.”
Sargsyan noted that the party has already expressed concerns regarding the TRIPP (likely referring to a transport or connectivity initiative) and will reach its final conclusions only after the project’s essence, components, implementation methods, and mechanisms are fully revealed.
He stressed that Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations must be conducted not from a position of weakness, but from the potential of national unity. “Armenia must be neither a client state, nor a parasitic state, nor an ethnographic museum,” the third president emphasized.
Proposal for Opposition Unity and Moral Commitments
Drawing on bitter political experience, Sargsyan observed that individuals occasionally emerge who divide the opposition by joining the ruling Civil Contract (QP) camp. To counter this, the RPA proposes that opposition forces which publicly declare they will not cooperate in any way with the Civil Contract party should formalize this stance in writing.
“We propose that, in addition to such statements, those forces have the top thirty candidates on their electoral lists sign a memorandum assuming a moral obligation not to collaborate with the capitulation regime and not to abandon the opposition field,” Sargsyan said.
Message to Artsakh Leaders Imprisoned in Baku and on the Right of Return
Addressing the former political and military leadership of Artsakh currently held in Baku prisons, Sargsyan expressed solidarity: “Guys, I am with you every day and every hour, in thought and in heart. I believe that one day we will meet. Your dignified conduct in those inhumane conditions is more eloquent and worthy of respect than the behavior of many who are free.”
He rejected any notion that the Artsakh chapter is closed: “We cannot accept that everything is finished and the Artsakh page is closed, as they are trying to impose. The right of Artsakh Armenians to a dignified return to their settlements under international guarantees is an inalienable right, and no one can deprive the people of Artsakh of that right.”
The 18th Congress of the Republican Party of Armenia highlighted the RPA’s strategy of focusing on regime change, active political engagement without direct electoral participation, opposition coordination, and firm defense of national interests ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections.
