Deputy chairman of the opposition Heritage party Ruben Hakobyan voiced surprise over cooperation between coalition Prosperous Armenia party and the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) ahead of elections, comparing this alliance to a fake marriage.

“I’m convinced this “marriage” will have a very short life, and we will soon witness a “divorce”,” he said mockingly adding ANC will have no political gain from this union.

According to Heritage member, this alliance enabled Prosperous Armenia to silence one of the major opposition voices which addressed sharp criticism against the coalition party.

As to the opposition bloc, Hakobyan said: “I don’t want to cite rumors, but ANC got certain opportunity for a wonderful election campaign.”

Heritage representative further reminded of accusations voiced by ANC against Prosperous Armenia, even naming its leader Gagik Tsarukyan and his bodyguards as “murderers”, and pointed to current silence of the opposition force.

Hakobyan also mentioned that ANC had earlier offered cooperation to Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan in combating former Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Prosperous Armenia; this proposal was then rejected.

“The same scenario was now offered to Prosperous Armenia which accepted it yielding to temptation,” he stated.

Parliamentary elections are due in Armenia on May 6 featuring 8 political parties (Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD), Orinats Yerkir, Heritage, Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA), Communist Party of Armenia and United Armenians party, as well as one election bloc represented by opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC).