In a public statement released today, embattled Prosperous Armenian Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukyan called for an end to the recent fighting, both verbal and physical, between the regime and the opposition in the name of national salvation.

Tsarukyan expressed regret that developments in Armenia over the past few days had taken a direction that “would lead to no good.”

This was undoubtedly a reference to President Sargsyan’s verbal assault on Tsarukyan as a politician, to the point of calling him an “evil” for the country.

In response, on February 15 Tsarukyan’s BHK and two other opposition parties (Armenian National Congress and Heritage) called for a mass political rally this Friday in Yerevan after a meeting of the party heads.

Since then, the regime is reported to have launched a crack-down on various BHK officials for a variety of tax and other violations.

Tsarukyan is said to have met with President Sargsyan the other day in an attempt to resolve the escalating political and personal feud between them.

Today, coincidentally, the BHK has declared that it will not participate in this Friday’s rally.

“The life and honor of each citizen are dear to me. There is no objective that can justify the shedding of blood by even one innocent person. It is incumbent on the regime and opposition not to cross the boundary of commonsense. All outstanding issues must be resolved peacefully and along legal political avenues,” Tsarukyan’s statement concludes.