In Armenia, RFE/RL is reporting that President Serzh Sarkisian has effectively sewn up the outcome of next year’s presidential election already.

The incumbent government is a coalition of President Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and the Orinats Yerkir and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) parties. In February, these parties agreed that they will support President Sarkisian in next year’s presidential election. However, this decision has the effect of eliminating any effective challenge. In response to the pre-electoral coalition, the opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage) party has boycotted parliament.

Meanwhile, RFE/RL also reports that the government has signalled that it is willing to enter into dialogue with the Armenian National Congress (HAK), which is led by the former president, Levon Ter-Petrosian. The HAK has been behind various demonstrations in the country against President Sarkisian. There have been deaths in the course of the protests. The HAK wants early presidential and legislative elections as well as the release of its supporters from prison.