The upcoming elections in Armenia will determine “whether we will have an independent state or move along the path of Turkification,” said Armen Rustamyan, a representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau.

Rustamyan made the remarks in Montreal during a ceremonial gathering marking the 135th anniversary of the party, organized under the slogan “Unity for Statehood,” Aysor.am reported.

During the event, organizers also held a symbolic ceremony in which members of the youth union solemnly joined the ranks of the party’s youth wing.

Rustamyan, the main speaker of the day, addressed developments over the past eight years in his speech, emphasizing the need to properly assess the path taken and outline a clear direction for the next stages.

“This election will determine whether we will have an independent state that protects our national dignity, or whether we will move down the path of Turkification and our losses will continue to grow. I am confident that our generation can be the generation that secures that victory. It was this generation that witnessed the liberation struggle with its own eyes, and we must return to our roots, and that victory will not be delayed — for the sake of the homeland and for the sake of faith. Long live the Armenian people and Armenia. Long live the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly that one of his political responsibilities is ensuring that parties like the ARF do not exist in Armenia.

He made the remarks in response to a question from Hayastan faction MP Lilit Galstyan regarding the atmosphere of violence in the country.

“As long as there is a party in Armenia where people are admitted by swearing on weapons and where shooting their own members is considered a normal occurrence, go and worry about your own party… One of our political responsibilities is that parties like yours should not exist in Armenia — as part of the strategy to fight crime, not the most essential but an important part of it. As long as such a party exists in Armenia, this problem will remain,” he said.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7, 2026.