Strong Armenia representative  describes Samvel Karapetyan`s  citizenship renunciation as a complex process

ArmInfo. Legal processes are currently underway in Russia and Cyprus regarding the renunciation of foreign citizenships by Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the "Strong Armenia" party. Gohar Meloyan, a legal expert and  member of the party, described the procedure as complex and time-consuming during a press briefing on April 22.

Addressing inquiries as to why the process was not initiated earlier,  Meloyan reminded reporters that Strong Armenia is a relatively new  political force, having held its inaugural congress only this past  February.

"During this congress, we presented our main approaches. On February  12, we confirmed the issue of meeting the electoral qualifications,  and at the same time, we announced that Samvel Karapetyan would be  our candidate for Prime Minister of Armenia," Meloyan noted.

When asked why their party hadn't immediately begun addressing the  citizenship renunciation issue, the party member stated that such  claims were incorrect. "Who said we haven't started? Perhaps we even  started this process earlier," she said.

She added that Karapetyan himself would provide more specific details  once all legal restrictions regarding his status are resolved. "These  questions will be answered by Samvel Karapetyan and the authorized  entities handling the matter. Legal proceedings are active in two  different countries; these are not simple procedures, and they have  their own mandatory timeframes," Meloyan stated.

Meloyan further clarified the party's rationale for nominating  Karapetyan, citing a significant "public demand." To meet this  demand, the party intends to pursue a specific legal path: amending  Article 148 of the Armenian Constitution (which currently sets  residency and citizenship requirements for the Prime Minister).  "If  the Armenian people agree with these changes and truly wish to see  Samvel Karapetyan as Prime Minister, they will first cast their votes  for our political force in the parliamentary elections, and  subsequently vote in favor of the constitutional amendments," Meloyan  concluded.