Our vision for the future is a strong Armenia: no child should be hungry, no parent should struggle to buy medicine – Samvel Karapetyan

The leader of the “Our Way” popular movement, Samvel Karapetyan, who is currently under illegal detention, has published a programmatic article on his Facebook page outlining his vision for Armenia’s future:

“In just a few days, 2025 will come to an end, and we will enter a decisive year in the history of Armenia and the Armenian people. It is clear that the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 2026 will have fateful consequences for the future of our state. What that future will be like will be decided by the Armenian people themselves.

You know that a small group and its leader offer their own vision of that future, and it is built around a single idea. They make promises, create glossy videos, and paint rosy pictures, but in essence they say only one thing: despite disasters and shameful failures, let Nikol remain in power, and everything else will supposedly work out.

At what cost this should happen, and why he should remain in power for a third term, is unclear. For what achievement? There has been no leadership competence, no positive experience has emerged, and there is no coherent strategy in any sphere. The country is drowning in debt, poverty has increased and deepened, democracy has been destroyed, society is extremely divided and filled with hatred, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is under threat, and the Diaspora has been alienated from the homeland. This list, unfortunately, can be continued for a long time.

But merely recording these failures is not enough. I believe it is far more important to offer an alternative so that our citizens have a real choice and are not left alone with government propaganda. With this short article, I want to do exactly that: to present a vision of the future based on the life I have lived, my reputation, and the work I have done. It is quite simple and can be summarized in four key points.

First and most importantly, our people have long awaited justice, and we must fulfill this long-standing expectation. A small group came to power on that very promise and shamelessly deceived everyone. We will restore justice.

Capable, intelligent, and worthy people will occupy positions in the state system regardless of personal connections or wealth. Courageous and patriotic professionals will not be dismissed but encouraged and promoted. Young people will be given a genuine green light. We will not empty the state budget to fill our own pockets. We will do the opposite, because it is right, it is fair, and it is necessary. Even at the expense of our own resources, we are obliged to enrich our country.

Over decades, we have built business relationships in dozens of countries with leading global companies. We will use those connections to develop, build, and strengthen Armenia. Our state and our people have many unmet needs. Why did we work and earn if not to meet those needs? For years, the United Arab Emirates has surprised the world with its pace of development. Now it is our time to surprise the world.

Second, Armenia must become a country of prosperity, where citizens feel safe and secure in every sense. The Armenian people have earned the right to live well in their own country. Poverty must become a thing of the past.

There should be no hungry or unclothed child in Armenia. There should no longer be a parent who struggles to pay for medicine. I consider this a matter of my personal honor.

At the same time, we cannot speak of development while a large part of society is trapped in debt, especially bank debt. People took loans to solve everyday problems – to buy a car, an apartment, or even to celebrate the New Year – and ended up in an endless cycle of obligations. Life becomes more expensive, incomes shrink, and needs never end. We will not leave these people alone with their problems. Together with banks and credit institutions, we will find fair and realistic solutions. I understand these issues, and I know how to solve them.

Third, Armenia has no right to maintain bad relations with any neighbor or any superpower. From the very first day after the elections, we will abandon the humiliating policy of slander on the one hand and servile flattery on the other.

We will not achieve real peace through artificial friendship with Azerbaijan and Turkey. We will not feel secure by conspiring against Russia. We will not gain reliable partners by ignoring the vital interests of Iran and Georgia. Our people have forgotten what it means to solve national problems through balanced and respectful relations. We will restore that approach and resolve issues peacefully, professionally, and always in Armenia’s interest.

Fourth, we must once again become a united family, where everyone, in an atmosphere of genuine solidarity and mutual respect, contributes to building our homeland. After removing this small group from power, we must eradicate hatred from Armenia.

We must come together as a nation and honestly analyze what has happened to us in recent years. We will find many of the causes of our problems within ourselves. We must find the strength to apologize to one another for the disasters we have experienced and make Armenia the safest and most desirable home for Armenians all over the world.

This is my vision of the future in its most essential form. Of course, I have much more to say. I will continue to speak in greater detail and present a full program in the near future, together with my colleagues from the Our Way movement. But I have shared the most important thing.

Today, you can already see two possible paths. One is the path we have been living on for more than seven years. The other is the future you have just read about.

The choice is yours. The future will come regardless. The question is whether we, Armenians, will make it ours in the best sense of the word – a just, prosperous, secure, peaceful, and united future for the Republic of Armenia.”