YEREVAN—Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has begun naming new ministers to replace the six senior state officials who resigned this week.
Arpine Sargsyan, former deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, will lead the ministry, while governor of the Armavir province Davit Khudatyan will be the new Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.
PM Pashinyan addressed the wave of high-profile resignations within his government, a move that has generated considerable debate, in a Facebook post. Pashinyan confirmed that he requested several senior officials step down, stating that the reasons were “not personal but systemic.” He expressed gratitude for the officials’ contributions to the country’s development but emphasized the need for change within the administration.
PM Pashinyan implemented a sweeping personnel overhaul this week within the government and law enforcement agencies. The reshuffle saw the resignation of two ministers, four senior officials and one member of parliament.
The resignations follow remarks by PM Pashinyan at a November 15 cabinet meeting, where he expressed frustration with the lack of progress in the law enforcement sector, declaring that his “patience is running out.” On November 18, it was confirmed that Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, Head of the State Revenue Committee Rustam Badalyan, Head of the Investigative Committee Argishti Kyaramyan and Minister of Internal Affairs Vahe Ghazaryan had submitted their resignations.
Karen Andreasyan, the chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, also announced his resignation via a Facebook post, stating that he would not discuss the underlying reasons behind his decision. Shortly after, additional resignation requests were submitted by Sasun Khachatryan, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Committee, and Narek Zeynalyan, head of the Health and Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.
Members of the ruling Civil Contract Party have called these resignations part of a “normal process,” while they have come under criticism from Armenia’s opposition. “These changes are made after each official fulfills their mission. Officials do not hold these positions forever. It’s a normal process,” ruling party MP Armen Khachatryan said.
The timing of these resignations has prompted wide speculation about Pashinyan’s political strategy. Political analyst Suren Surenyan believes the reshuffle may be a prelude to early parliamentary elections. He argued that it is a tactical response to external challenges, particularly the fallout from the Artsakh conflict and internal criticisms of his leadership. Surenyan also predicted that certain officials may face criminal charges, pointing out that after significant political changes, governments often purge officials linked to previous administrations.
Avetik Chalabyan, coordinator of the “Hayakve” initiative, suggested that the resignations may be part of a larger strategy to consolidate power in preparation for a potential snap election. He described it as a calculated move by PM Pashinyan to salvage his low approval ratings, present a rebranded, more “pro-state and modern persona” and repair the image of his embattled government.
“This is just another phase of the game initiated by Pashinyan, aiming to obscure the real problem, which is the anti-national and anti-state nature of his administration,” Chalabyan said. He added that recent symbolic acts, including Pashinyan shaving off his beard this week for the first time since coming to power in 2018, riding a bicycle under heavy security and other “political theatrics,” are designed to reshape Pashinyan’s image from a “tarnished and discredited figure.”
In other news, during a Q&A at the National Assembly, PM Pashinyan raised questions about the very foundations of the Armenian state. Reflecting on Armenia’s Declaration of Independence, Pashinyan shared that after multiple readings of the document, he concluded, “The content of the Declaration suggests that the Republic of Armenia cannot exist. This is our greatest problem and tragedy.”
This marks a shift from Pashinyan’s previous statements, including those made just two and a half months ago, when he praised the Declaration and its significance for Armenia’s independence and sovereignty. However, this is not the first time that Pashinyan has provided his own interpretation of the 1990 document. Earlier this year, the prime minister used the metaphor of a bull and a red cloth to warn that if the Declaration was not removed from the Constitution, it could lead to war.
Pashinyan’s remarks came a day after he stated on X that Azerbaijan’s Constitution includes territorial claims to 60% of the territory of the Republic of Armenia. However, he said that he will not insist that Azerbaijan amend its Constitution, because “such a demand would lead to a deadlock in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.”
The Declaration of Independence has been a point of contention for Azerbaijan, which argues that the preamble to the Armenian Constitution contains territorial claims and insists that the reference to the Declaration be removed from the country’s fundamental law.
These remarks have raised concerns among the opposition and the general public. In an interview with the Weekly, Gegham Manukyan, a member of parliament from the “Armenia” faction of the National Assembly, expressed concerns regarding PM Pashinyan’s approach to Azerbaijan’s demands. Manukyan criticized Pashinyan for uncritically yielding to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, warning that these concessions undermine Armenia’s sovereignty and the principles outlined in the country’s Declaration of Independence.
“Pashinyan is effectively turning Aliyev’s demands into reality without considering the long-term repercussions,” Manukyan said. He cautioned that Aliyev’s pressure would not stop with Pashinyan’s statements but would likely escalate, potentially leading to a referendum aimed at altering Armenia’s position. “Such a referendum will never take place,” Manukyan said, emphasizing his firm opposition to any such developments.
Meanwhile, Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan, has addressed the ongoing discussions regarding the future of Artsakh, focusing on the conditions under which ethnic Armenians could return to the region. Hajiyev stated that any ethnic Armenians wishing to return could apply for Azerbaijani citizenship on an individual basis in accordance with Azerbaijan’s national laws.
However, Hajiyev said that such returns would only be possible on a reciprocal basis. For ethnic Armenians to return, Azerbaijan insists on the simultaneous recognition of the rights of displaced Azerbaijanis to return to territories within Armenia from which they were expelled.
Hoory Minoyan
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It was always a tragedy alluding to unification in the constitution yet never seeing it through to its logical conclusion after 1994. It’s obvious that Azerbaijan will only allow persons to return which would include Azeri citizenship and probably renouncing Armenian on the basis of Azeris who had lived in Armenian SSR being allowed to return. It’s for Armenia and Azerbaijan to determine whether a formal population exchange or a conditional right of return is preferable. Pashinyan looks quite different after a shave too!
No Armenians are ever going back.
Who would ever trust their life to a Turk?
Organized crime in Armenia is increasing at an alarming rate, when a nation is led by a PM without ZERO qualifications, zero foreign relations experience, zero economic and financial experience we see the results, a few roads are sealed and we saw 5000 of our boys die, lands given away on our knees, the man is incapable of leadership, he negotiates on his knees, none of our adversaries or allies have any respect for him, yet the guilable masses voted him in twice, now crime groups are growing and taking control, and he operates the nation as if it is a corner shop, he has been a disaster for our nation, but then again our history is always shown incapable leaders doing severe damage, governing with clan like mentality led by vengeance, we need to bring in a large chunk of highly experienced diaspora leaders with credibility to run the nation.
Its a joke. Armenian sovereignty and independence. There is none. The country is owned by the west and the turks, who dictate terms. Any rational person knew this would happen if we ever gave up our alliance with Russia and put our trust in America/the west. Hayastancis who are for pashoglu are so shortsighted.
Don’t forget @Charles and our amazing bolsahyes like @Sevan Peter B who are all about destroying relations with Russia for quick gains.
Never trust a bolsahye
They should all resign including their loser-in-chief Pashinyan and disappear until they are dealt with for their treasonous activities. That would allow the nation to begin to heal. A new ultra-nationalist patriotic government should take their place and begin reforming the military, firing all Pashinyan appointed generals and reinstating all former battle-hardened generals many of whom had fought in the 1990s Artsakh Liberation War, and start arming the military to the teeth with utmost sophisticated weapons available. That’s when you will see the enemy singing a whole different tune. The bottom line is that we need a strong military with dedicated officers who in case of any hostility initiated by the enemy they won’t think twice hitting and blowing up enemy oil & gas pipelines, among other critical targets, to bring their economy to halt and to bend the enemy to our demands. You don’t appease a bully, you stand your ground and punch the bully in the mouth!
Good points provided Azerbaijan and Turkey remain idle all the time and turn a blind eye to Armenia rearmament. Only a blind and insane person can think so that Armenia will be readying herself to snatch the list territories back while the neighbours would just sit and watch. Moreover it would be naive to believe that Georgia will allow such rearmament through its territory given their relationship with Turkey and Azerbaijan
@Shahid Ibrar
Turks are renowned for their ability to run away.
@ ARARAT. KEEP DREAMING! 85 MILLION TURKS ON ONE SIDE, AND 10 MILLION AZERIS ON THE OTHER. WHAT’S ARMENIA’S POPULATION? LESS THAN 3 MILLION. GOOD LUCK DEFEATING ALMOST 100 MILLION TURKS WITH A WEAK, CORRUPT, AND MISMANAGED, LANDLOCKED, COUNTRY! ARMENIA NEEDS NUKES.
@TRUTH ARMENIAN,
I’m sure you and the likes of you thought the same when the Armenian Liberation Movement began in 1988. That fighting Azerbaijan-SSR which was getting direct military assistance from the Soviet Red Army and then from terrorist Turkey after the Soviet collapse was also a pipe dream and that three million Armenians were crazy and on a suicide mission to start such a movement. But they did it and we all were witnesses to it. They did the unthinkable and defeated and humiliated artificial Azerbaijani petrostate and we all cheered them on. It is just that they failed to bring their victory to its intended conclusion for one reason or another, among them, being war-weary, inexperience, trusting intermediaries and false allies, corruption, or having pity on an enemy wanting to save face to fight another day. What did nearly nine million Azerbaijanis do? They whined and cried for thirty years. They made so many attempts militarily and failed miserably every single time to do anything substantial. Their new MAFIA clan chief and chicken-hawk Ilham Aliyev, the son of the late KGB commie agent Heydar, tried to get OIC, Organization of Islamic States, involved in the conflict with his fabricated sob stories trying to tap into their religious feeling and even that to no avail other than some empty lip service.
That is why they dragged terrorist Turkey into this conflict by way of bribery and blackmail. That is not to say the Turks did not welcome it because they did because getting back to that region was already a part of their pan-Turkic plan from the past. To make it worth their while, they bribed the Turks with cheap Caspian oil and lucrative projects and blackmailed them with sanctions and other punitive actions beginning in 2009-2010 when Turkey and Armenia signed that infamous reconciliation treaty in Zurich without any preconditions which Turkish parliament failed to ratify by placing preconditions on the Armenians after the fact. Because of the current loser-in-chief brought to power by western financing we antagonized our traditional allies and allowed our two traditional terrorist states form a union. The ugly face of terrorist Turkey showed up on our backyard once again after a century of absence. Numbers don’t win wars, smart politicians, strategists, and right weapons do and we lack those. Eighty five years ago in 1945, US bombed Japan with atomic weapons that killed a hundred to a hundred fifty thousand people on impact and several times that number over the years. Today a similar weapon can kill over ten times as many on impact. We don’t live in an age where we have to fight trench wars anymore. We live in an age that you can destroy thousands upon thousands by push of a button from half a world away!
I totally agree with Ararat. I cannot add anything to his comments. Bravo.
It’s been known throughout the ages that the more powerful always wins.
What Armenia needs is a “Coup d’Etat”. Get rid of Pashinyan with or without his beard before it is too late.
@ GERARD. YOU CAN’T ADD ANYTHING TO WHAT ARARAT SAID? HOW ABOUT SAYING HE SHOULD LAY OFF THE PIPE BECAUSE WHAT HE SAID WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN A MILLION YEARS!
The current political status in Armenia sees an unpopular government and an even unpopular opposition. The next elections in Armenia are likely to see the government re-elected with a reduced majority and new forces occupying the opposition places in Parliament.
It is interesting to note the comments posted are about which side Armenia should choose – Russia or the West. The reality is whether Armenia chooses Russia or the West, it will continue to be under their influence and sometimes the interests of those great powers will conflict with the interests of a small player like Armenia. When interests of different parties come in conflict, history has demonstrated over and over which party comes on top.
It is also interesting some opposition forces like the ARF are now aligned with Russia and advocating deepening relations. This is the same Russia that during the cold war the ARF fought relentlessly against when it aligned itself with the West and was trying to undermine the regime in Soviet Armenia.
Political alliances change and shift over time which is a natural process and consequence, but one principle holds true and constant and that is the interests of great powers will always prevail over smaller powers like Armenia.
Hagop
Yes indeed the ironic comings and goings the anti Moscow ARF of the Soviet Armenia era now supportive of Moscow.
As a small nation Armenia is always going to be subject to the greater influence of larger nations unless they are all reduced to similar sized entities but obviously we have to deal with realities not conjectures.
There is of course the issue of expedience and collateral.
As for comings and goings in the early 15th century when Timur invaded Armenia and the ottoman empire they sided together against the Tatars of central Asia. Something for Armenian nationalists and pan Turanists to think about perhaps.
A Fortress Armenia policy is needed.
Every Armenian man must know how to fight and every Armenian woman must commit herself to having 4 children each.
If that were to happen, Armenia would have a population of 12 million in just 2 generations’ time.
Numbers matter and Armenia’s current population of just 3 million is ridiculously small.
Unfortunately too many people seem to overlook the relative decline of Armenian military since 1994. It wasn’t like pausing a movie or picking up a book after a long hiatus. In the meantime Azerbaijan had transformed it’s military. After all take note globally of how various countries and companies rise and fall. It’s part of the comings and goings of life. Thus the defeat of 2020 was a surprise but the circumstances were there.
The heroes of 1994 will all be thirty years older now. Would any sports team have the same squad from a success then and expect the same thing now? Some basic skills from then still will serve well but make way for younger men and avoid a geriocracy in the military..
@Charles,
You continue singing the same repetitive tune to an audience that is deaf by now from listening to what is not true. Once again, if what you say were true it would not have taken our enemy, with all their petrodollar wealth, thirty years to barely get back on their feet and even then need NATO member terrorist Turkey on their side to plan and conduct the 2020 joint Turkish-Azerbaijani invasion of Armenian liberated territories. You are misrepresenting facts. Even if we assume what you say about the Armenian military to be true, the fact is what you say about our enemy is untrue because were it true they would have finished on their own what they started in April of 2016 only a few years prior to 2020 joint Turkish-Azerbaijani invasion but instead they only lasted a week after decades of militarization. It was only when they formed a treaty with terrorist Turkey that attack on one was an attack on the other that things began to change. How can an Azerbaijan that lasted a week after initiating a large scale attack on its own only three years prior to the 2020 invasion and failed miserably be able to pull off the 2020 invasion? Azerbaijan has never won a war against the Armenians on its own and that is a fact. Needless to say NATO member Turkey, with NATO supplied weapons, such as F16s hidden inside Azerbaijan, committed its terrorist defense ministry to the 2020 invasion and that primarily, among other pan-Turkic fascist agenda, for cheap Caspian oil & lucrative projects making Turkey the energy hub in the region to pump Caspian oil & gas into energy-hungry Europe.
Furthermore, many of the Armenian officers who fought in the first liberation war were in their mid to late twenties and thirties and they are not that old to serve. Even if there are those among them who are too old and rusty by now, their military wisdom and knowledge of the enemy is very critical. That is why the current traitor-in-chief Pashinyan retired them all so they won’t be a hindrance in his defeatist globalist nonsense policies that to this day have been hunting him. He is a crazy fool to take this path with an enemy that must be crushed to pieces once and for all. The definition of crazy is to repeat the same thing over and over again and expect different results and that fits this crazy fool quite well.
In 2016 it was generally understood that Russia then friendly with Armenia pressured Azerbaijan to break off the attack which still ended with them making territorial gains and saw the use of various drones unavailable in 1994 and should have served as a sign of the changed reality. Azerbaijan was biding it’s time from it’s 1994 failures, it’s the way of the Turks they aren’t impulsive and theatrical like the Arabs for example, going back in history the Turks capture of Constantinople in 1453 was a methodical process and a culmination of many years of meticulous preparation indeed had narrowly failed in 1439. Most wars are more like a card rather than chess game in that neither have an equal starting position normally. Also most national sides have allies and supporters of varying levels internationally. Israel despite Arab incompetence; whooping , shooting the sky and then wondering why they have run out of ammunition. It clearly has benefits of massive backing from the USA notably otherwise it wouldn’t appear to be quite as savvy as it is although man for man the Jews seem to be more skillful than the Arabs indeed the Arabs fooled themselves “we are the warriors of Mohammad” and thought on that basis the Jews who they saw as dhimmni underdog subjects couldn’t possibly beat them in battle. Clearly Pashinyan favours loyalty over ability although this is not a unique phenomena to him nor Armenia. Those in their 50s and 60s still had some role but phasing out to make way for the younger generation is important for any nation an old guard from heros from the last war is courting with disaster. So a wholesale purge was wrong but it was time for some of the older leadership to retire honourably. Armenia is currently procuring weapons from France and India and Greece yet if it was intent on throwing the game wouldn’t seek weapons and support from other countries and Azerbaijan shows it’s bully boy manipulative ways by accusing Armenia of warmongering for this despite its own active weapons procurement when having reasserted authority over internationally recognised lands should not have the reason to militarise but of course as we all know is intent on attacking or bullying Armenia and wants to leave the conflict festering to further it’s advantage indeed a reverse of the 1990s when Armenia fatally played for time and let the conflict fester rather than accept a settlement which would have preserved and confirmed some of the gains although Russia certainly wants the conflict to fester to allow it was role of influence which would end if there is an official resolution. Also as Armenia seems keen to alter its constitution at Azerbaijan behest whose own constitution contains claims upon Armenia which Armenia being the weaker can’t seek repicoiciality. In such an event Armenia can restrict rights of visit, transit, trade even with a peace agreement if Azerbaijan maintains official claims against internationally recognised Armenian territory and have a restricted relationship like India and Pakistan do. Clearly Turkey and Azerbaijan are benefitting from the issues with Russia and capitalising on the restrictions on Russian hydrocarbons. Although some Azeris consider Turkey the controlling gatekeeper in the relationship and viewing them as second fiddle.
Charlie is a Turk lover.
His and Sevan’s aim is to spread despair and defeatism so that Armenia surrenders to the Turks and the Armenians live as dhimmis.
Remember – living as dhimmis means that the Turks will do what they want with Armenian women.
That’s how Charlie and Sevan serve their pashas.
The turks and azeris know they committed genocide. They know that we know they committed genocide. So when they see appeasement by pashoglu and his clan and hayastanci population following along. They laugh and know that they can dictate terms to the armenians and can commit genocide again against us because they have not been held to account.