It's too early for Armenian's to think about Kocharyan, expert says

The main reason to doubt the genuine desire of Armenia's second President Robert Kocharyan to return to politics and, moreover, become president again, is that there are still four years before the next presidential elections in the country. The same factor makes it difficult to assess his chances for such return, the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Ruben Safrastyan, said in a conversation with a VK reporter.

"In fact, he may wish to return to big politics. But his chances are now very difficult to judge, because it is far from the time when the term of office of the incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan ends. I think it will need to be followed closer to 2018, when the next presidential election will be held. Only then will we consider whether he has a chance or not, because the internal political situation in Armenia is changing too fast," Safrastian said.

The expert recalls that not so long ago the first Armenian President, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, tried to get back into politics, and his bad experience should also be considered when discussing the prospects of Robert Kocharyan. At the same time, according to Safrastian, Kocharyan does not aspire to positions less important than the presidency so far.

"I can tell by the publications in the Armenian press that such a possibility is being discussed, at least at the level of experts. 'We should take into account that, firstly, Kocharyan is a very experienced politician, and he is fluent in the economic situation in Armenia. But on the other hand, it is difficult now to see any signs that he is preparing to return to big politics even as the Prime Minister. Personally, I do not see such signs," the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia says.