YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: On January 29, at the gathering marking the 17th anniversary of the founding of Artsakh’s [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] ruling Free Homeland Party, the party's founder, AR [(Artsakh Republic)] President Arayik Harutyunyan—who terminated [his] membership [in the] after the war [in the fall of 2020]—, told his supporters [that] those who became members in the party for him were free as of today because he has no political plans, and he will leave politics after the constitutional amendments.

[But] this statement was not accepted unequivocally in the political field.

Now, the ring around him has been tightened again. On the one hand, [Armenia’s PM Nikol] Pashinyan wants to get rid of [him]. On the other hand, a process of constitutional amendments is underway [in Artsakh], and Arayik Harutyunyan's [aforesaid] statement made a few days ago, according to Artsakh sources, is aimed at gaining time.

In parallel, they are spreading rumors that the former presidents and generals of Artsakh are forming a new political force in order to vie for taking power in the upcoming snap elections.

We are talking about [ex-Presidents] Bako Sahakyan and Arkadi Ghukasyan, as well as [Generals] Levon Mnatsakanyan, Arshavir Gharamyan, and others. According to our source, they will not appear in their face. Political consultations have already begun.