Sovereign Armenia Party Ինքնիշխան Հայաստան կուսակցություն | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Davit Sanasaryan[1] |
| Founded | 9 April 2021 (2021-04-09)[2] |
| Headquarters | Yerevan |
| Ideology | Pro-Western Pro-Europeanism |
| Political position | Centre |
| National Assembly | 0 / 107 |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
| ihk.am | |
TheSovereign Armenia Party (Armenian:Ինքնիշխան Հայաստան կուսակցություն,romanized: Ink’nishkhan Hayastan kusakts’ut’yun), also known as theIndependent Armenia Party, is anArmenianpolitical party.[3][4]
The party was established in April 2021 and currently acts as anextra-parliamentary force.[5] Its co-founder and leader is Davit Sanasaryan.[6] Davit Sanasaryan was the former head of Armenia's state anti-corruption agency, however, Sanasaryan resigned from his position as a result of a criminal case against him for corruption allegations.[7][8][9] He was also a former member of Prime MinisterNikol Pashinyan's,Civil Contract party, and theHeritage party before that.
The party is skeptical of theHomeland Salvation Movement political alliance. During an interview, Davit Sanasaryan stated that most of the leaders of that alliance should be imprisoned for corruption.[10][11]
The party announced its intentions to participate in the2021 Armenian parliamentary elections.[12][13] Following the election, the party won just 0.31% of the popular vote, failing to win any representation in theNational Assembly.
The party opposes Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's policies and believes that Turkey must be held accountable for its role in the2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.[12] The party suggests launching an investigation on the war and the role of the current authorities in Armenia's defeat.[14] The party also supports free elections, combating criminal regimes, developing a strongmarket economy, increasing the population, strengthening the military, and supportingArtsakh's independence and security.[10][15]
In addition, the party believes that it was a mistake for theGovernment of Armenia to reject the signing of anAssociation Agreement with theEU in 2013. The party believes that it was unwise of Armenia to become solely dependent onRussia for its security.[16] Davit Sanasaryan has stated that the government should have used the momentum of the2018 Armenian revolution to make a shift in Armenia's foreign policy. The party believes that Armenia should establish mutually beneficial relations with both Russia and theUnited States, as well as, building effective partnerships with other countries.
In April 2023, Sanasaryan stated thatFrance should replace Russia as Armenia's strategic ally.[17]
On 1 April 2021, the Sovereign Armenia Party signed a joint declaration with 4 other political parties calling on theGovernment of Armenia to ensure free and fair upcoming elections, following the on-goingpolitical unrest in Armenia.[18][19]
On 14 April 2021, Davit Sanasaryan met with the President of ArmeniaArmen Sargsyan to discuss the ongoing political situation in the country.[20]
On 7 May 2021, party members met with representatives of theGeneration of Independence Party, political issues and potential cooperation was discussed.
On 3 August 2021, the Sovereign Armenia Party, theEuropean Party of Armenia and theConservative Party released a joint statement calling for the Armenian government to demand theCSTO military alliance to cease selling weapons to Azerbaijan and Turkey. The statement also called for the withdrawal of Armenia from the CSTO, should the alliance ignore Armenia's security concerns.[21]
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Davit Sanasaryan | 3,915 | 0.31 | 0 / 107 |  0 |  19th | Extra-parliamentary |
