Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan criticized the government’s economic policies and warned against decisions that could damage Armenia’s trade relations, arguing that the country faces serious economic challenges ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections.

Speaking during a campaign march in Vanadzor, Tsarukyan addressed the prospect of Armenia leaving the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), insisting that economic policy be driven by practical interests rather than geopolitics.

“The economy sustains the country and feeds the people,” Tsarukyan said. “The economy is neither pro-government nor opposition. It is neither pro-Russian nor pro-Western.”

He warned that Armenia’s economy was nearing a difficult period and questioned whether alternative markets could quickly replace existing ties. “Who will support these people? Who will feed them? This is not how things should be done,” he stated. “They talk about alternatives, but those alternatives will not exist for 10 years. People must understand what the economy is. The economy is not a toy. The time has come to stop telling lies.”

Tsarukyan also accused the government of breaking its promises, arguing that instead of peace and prosperity it had brought new economic hardship. “They talked about bringing peace, but instead brought economic war,” he said.