Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia’s third president, commented on the May 28 military parade while speaking with journalists after casting his vote, stating that weapons are meant for combat, not for display.

“What they showed — who can say how many units of those systems we actually have, or which of the displayed weapons is more modern and powerful, those or, for example, the Iskander? It is obvious, isn’t it, that it was not a military parade but a display intended to justify the enormous sums that were supposedly spent on defense. All of that will become clear when there is a change of government and when we are able to investigate everything,” Sargsyan said, according to Panorama.am .

He recalled statements made by the authorities before the 2020 war.

“Have you heard that same person’s statement in 2020, before the war, when he said that the Armenian army had a decisive influence in the region? If the weapons were scrap metal, were we then a decisive force with them?” he said.

Sargsyan stated that he had voted for an Armenia capable of defending its state borders and protecting the rights of its citizens.

“I came to vote so that the Armenia that wins is one capable of preserving the inviolability of its borders, ensuring the security of its citizens, protecting their rights and safeguarding national dignity,” Sargsyan said, according to Aysor.am .

He added that he had voted for an Armenia where lies and defamation are condemned and active political engagement is valued.

“For an Armenia where the authorities do not attach the notorious charge of ‘money laundering’ to opposition figures,” Sargsyan said.

Addressing the fact that the Republican Party of Armenia, which he leads, is not participating in the elections, Sargsyan said the decision had been driven not by generosity toward other opposition forces but by political calculation.

“We will be able to judge that by seeing how active our citizens are. If at least 10% more people come to polling stations than in 2021, then I will consider our decision justified,” the former president said.

Regular National Assembly elections are underway in Armenia. The country’s 2,005 polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. The voter registry includes 2,485,851 registered voters. Polling stations will remain open until 8:00 p.m.

A total of 18 political forces are participating in the parliamentary elections: two electoral alliances and 16 political parties. The electoral threshold is 4% for parties and 8% for alliances.