On March 16, Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a representative of the Supreme Body of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF Dashnaktsutyun) and a member of parliament from the Armenia bloc, announced the continuation of cooperation between the ARF and Armenia's second president, Robert Kocharyan. "The Forward Party and many public figures have joined us, and we will participate in the elections with the Armenia bloc. We didn't remain silent, we didn't retreat, we didn't hide. We fought during street protests, in parliament, and internationally," Saghatelyan stated.

During the same announcement, Saghatelyan criticized Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, saying the anti-Armenian regime has declared the closure of the Third Republic and the formation of a Fourth Republic. "He destroyed Artsakh, and now he plans to destroy the Republic of Armenia," he emphasized. He described the government’s vision of Armenia as a state dictated by Azerbaijan, lacking a church, history, identity, and an army, and dependent on the whims of Aliyev and Erdogan. "Our goal is to prevent the reproduction of the current regime and break the chain of concessions. There is no force in Armenia that can do this alone. I am directly addressing the opposition forces. We have no targets in the opposition; in the opposition field, we have partners for today's and tomorrow's struggle. We have only one target: the current government. We expect the same approach from other opposition forces," he added.

Saghatelyan also addressed foreign actors, emphasizing that "The only entity that shapes power in Armenia is the citizen of Armenia. Any interference from any capital is unacceptable and condemnable for us," the MP stated.

During a ceremony held in Yerevan on March 16, Anna Grigoryan, a member of parliament from the Armenia bloc, announced that Robert Kocharyan would be the bloc’s candidate for prime minister in the 2026 parliamentary elections. "We are determined, our goal is victory," Kocharyan stated.

Speaking in Yerevan on March 16, Kocharyan criticized the current government, saying, "The evil that this government embodies will lose. I have fought them since the first days of their rise to power, and I will not rest until they are removed. Those responsible for the deaths of thousands of our heroes, those who surrendered Artsakh and today force the people to forget their heroic history, must be held accountable."

Kocharyan also addressed what he described as dangerous reinterpretations of Armenian history and identity: "We live in strange times when they try to convince us that our rich history is a burden, that patriotism is outdated, and that identity is a seasonal fashion. We say 'No!' to these dangerous misunderstandings. For the Armenia bloc, our identity, our history, and our patriotism are the driving force behind building a modern and powerful country."

He outlined his foreign policy vision, noting the collapse of the international order: "Today, the world has descended into chaos. Ensuring security remains one of Armenia's primary tasks. Armenia needs a strong army, a strong leader, and a powerful ally to jointly neutralize all threats. Foreign policy must be predictable and reject exploiting differences between great powers. We are for peace with Azerbaijan, but this peace must be based on real guarantees, not symbolic promises."

On the same day, Kocharyan introduced the Armenia bloc’s official slogan and competitive advantages for the elections. He emphasized experience and capability: "How should citizens decide who to vote for? Find a team that can combine fine-sounding statements with the ability to implement them. None of the candidates has as much experience in public administration, security, foreign policy, economics, and business as I do. The state is not a training ground for the inexperienced. This is our homeland, our land, which has given birth to intelligent and hardworking people worthy of a much better life." He concluded with the bloc’s slogan: "Together we can!"

Kocharyan also presented plans to reform governance: "We will dramatically improve public administration. The current shameful model of 'The Government is Me' must be replaced by a collegial, inclusive model of 'The Government is Us.' The government is not a circus, the prime minister is not a clown, and the country's budget is not a personal pocket. We will ensure order and economic growth, creating a modern, competitive industry and agriculture for exports. Economic growth must be reflected in citizens' living standards. During my presidency, the economy and wages grew sixfold. We can achieve significant growth again, attracting domestic and foreign investment."

He committed to social reforms, stating, "Pensions will rise sharply, with mandatory indexation to prevent devaluation. The transition to retirement should be rewarding. We are confident that poverty can be reduced by at least half. Popular health is a priority, ensuring accessible, high-quality healthcare for every citizen."

Kocharyan addressed security concerns: "Crime has risen despite increased police funding. Political pressure on law enforcement must end. We will guarantee order on the streets and zero tolerance for drug addiction, which has become a national scourge. Those enjoying protection at the highest levels will be punished. People's lives must be peaceful and predictable."

Saghatelyan also emphasized Armenia bloc’s principles: "Our proposal is not endless war; it is to ensure dignified stability. We are coming to prevent war, protect territorial integrity, restore sovereignty, and secure our people. We aim to build a state not forced to make concessions. A real peace requires a strong army, intelligent diplomacy, and a powerful economy. Armenia must create its reality, with identity, language, culture, family, and the Armenian Apostolic Church at its foundation. Pan-Armenianism is central; the Diaspora is a participant in state-building. A national test awaits us: either us or them. We choose Armenia," he stated.

Moreover, at Armenia's request, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, said a rapid response team will be deployed to counter threats ahead of the country's elections. "Supporting democratic resilience in our region remains crucial. We will not leave Armenia alone to face foreign interference. Democracies under pressure can count on Europe," she noted.