Hovik Abrahamyan's move was both expected and unexpected for HHK

“We have what we have,” Mkrtich Minasyan, a lawmaker from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), said on January 25 commenting on former Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan’s decision to leave the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). “We should admit that every politician is free to continue or discontinue his political activities. Hovik Abrahamyan has made his own decision, it is his right. I can say that he exercised his right,” Mr Minasyan said adding that he did not expect Abrahamyan to take such a decision. “It would be wrong to say that the move was expected. To say that the decision was unexpected would also be wrong,” he added. Narek Ayvazyan, a member of the Free Democrats Party, said his party would run in the upcoming parliamentary elections alone without entering into an alliance with other forces. “We shall include in our party-list social and political figures who share our ideology and system of values,” he stressed adding that he could not officially give any names. Narek Ayvazyan added that the integration into the European Union lies in the core of their program. Besides, they want Armenia to withdraw from the Eurasian Economic Union. Edgar Arakelyan, Spokesman for the Armenian Revival Party, said in turn that his party would probably participate in the April 2 vote alone. “We have been holding meetings in recent days but everything will be clear in the coming days,” he said.