The Armenian authorities have no intention of adopting a Basic Law dictated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The discussion concerns the development of a new Constitution, which would require the approval of the republic’s own citizens, stated Ruben Rubinyan, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, during a briefing on October 30.

This comment came in response to statements from opposition lawmakers, who have vowed to vote against a so-called "Aliyev-style" Constitution. Rubinyan dismissed this stance as premature, noting that a draft of the new Basic Law has not yet been presented.

"No one in Armenia intends to adopt an 'Aliyev-style' Constitution. The proposal is to adopt a new, Armenian Constitution that would be approved by the citizens of Armenia through a vote," the Deputy Speaker asserted.

He also criticized the opposition for rejecting the very idea of ​​updating the Basic Law before even seeing its contents. In Rubinyan’s view, those who oppose the initiative should first examine the document itself.

"If they believe the Constitution is fundamentally flawed, they should allow it to be put to the people. They could even lead the 'No' campaign and explain their position to the public," Rubinyan suggested.

The debate over the Constitution has intensified against the backdrop of discussions regarding a peace agreement with Azerbaijan and the proposed "TRIPP" transport route. On October 28, opposition Deputy Speaker of Parliament Aram Vardevanyan questioned why a peace treaty has yet to be signed, given that the Armenian authorities claim that peace has effectively been established and that relations with Baku are developing.

In response, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan suggested that the opposition consider whether they would be prepared to support constitutional amendments, should it emerge that such changes are the final condition for achieving peace with Azerbaijan. Baku is demanding a revision of Armenia’s Basic Law, perceiving its provisions as containing territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly rejected such accusations, stating that the Constitution of Armenia contains no territorial claims against Azerbaijan or any other state. At the same time, he has pointed to the existence of territorial claims against Armenia within the Constitution of Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan describes the adoption of a new Constitution—through the free expression of the will of the citizens—as an essential condition for the country’s stability and security. Rubinyan, for his part, stated that discussions on constitutional reform have not reached a dead end; he noted that since various potential courses of action are still being considered, it is premature to speak of an impasse.