Arguing that Armenia faces a crisis of governance and that all efforts must be directed towards freeing the country from the “criminal-oligarch” regime, Andreas Ghukasyan, a member of the Votki Hayastan (Rise Up Armenia) civil initiative has called for snap presidential elections and proposes that the French-Armenia singer Charles Aznavour be nominated as interim president of a “government of confidence” during the election period.

Ghukasyan, arrested on July 29 during clashes between police and protesters in the Sari Tagh neighborhood of Yerevan, continues a hunger strike started on August 1.

His statement on how he perceives the current political situation in Armenia and his roadmap for change was released by his wife Anahit Tarkhanyan.

In his statement, Ghukasyan argues that Russia is working against Armenia regarding defending the security of Artsakh in favor of Azerbaijan. He says that Armenia, by servicing the interests of Russia in international tribunals, is being gradually deprived of assistance from civilized nations and is being isolated.

Such a foreign policy, Ghukasyan argues, means that Armenia is consciously heading to capitulating to Baku at the cost of Artsakh’s independence and the eventual depopulation of Armenians from the country.

Ghukasyan says that snap presidential elections remain the only way to fix this foreign policy nightmare and to bring Armenia out of its current morass.

When it comes to explaining how the opposition will force the current regime to agree to snap elections, Ghukasyan comes up short.

He says that Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue (where the presidential palace and parliament are located) must be open to peaceful marches and rallies.

Ghukasyan also calls for political parties to unite in support of snap elections.