Nikol Pashinyan is against Armenian Soldiers

When a person takes the wrong path, they begin to view their own and others’ previously correct actions as mistakes. This is the situation Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan finds himself in. On September 23, during a discussion at the Armenian Democracy Forum—later shared on his social media—Pashinyan made a controversial statement: “As of 2018, what business did an 18-year-old soldier have outside the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia?”
Some critics and opposition figures labeled the question anti-state, anti-national, and even treasonous. The remark was primarily directed at Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan. It gave the impression that Pashinyan was testifying against him, accusing him of aggression toward neighboring Azerbaijan and of occupying Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory.
In response, Levon Zurabyan, deputy chairman of the Armenian National Congress, argued that Pashinyan’s question actually reflects on himself: “If what you say is true, and after becoming Commander-in-Chief of Armenia’s Armed Forces in 2018 you did not immediately withdraw those soldiers back into Armenia, then for two and a half years you were engaged in violating international law, in occupying a neighboring country—for which, at best, you should be imprisoned by The Hague tribunal, and at worst, by Baku.”
Pashinyan’s question, however, has a legitimate answer. Armenian soldiers today still serve outside Armenia’s sovereign borders as part of international peacekeeping missions. Armenia participates in such deployments in line with its national interests and commitment to global civilization. Meanwhile, the people of Artsakh had exercised their right to self-determination, refusing to be part of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan launched aggression against Artsakh, and Armenia’s government sent soldiers to defend the Armenian people and the right to freedom and self-determination of Artsakh Armenians. In that sense, deploying Armenian soldiers to Artsakh was the right decision.
Although the struggle for Artsakh’s freedom began in 1988, it was Pashinyan’s strongly pro-Russian policies that gave enemies the legal and political grounds to renew aggression against Artsakh and seize not only Artsakh but also parts of Armenia’s sovereign territory. He became a submissive instrument of the Kremlin, following its instructions—including sending Armenian soldiers to Syria, a move perceived as a challenge by the civilized world. Pashinyan was likely asked: “What is the Armenian soldier doing outside Armenia’s sovereign territory—in Syria?” Unable to answer, he may have thought he had posed a “strong” question.
This formulation could well be exploited by Baku. Even though, according to agreements, legal cases have been withdrawn from international courts, Pashinyan’s statement could serve as a pretext for Azerbaijan to file new claims against Armenia. From this perspective, it is an anti-state statement. It is also anti-national, because Armenian soldiers were defending the Armenian people. After all, what is the soldier’s purpose, if not to protect his people’s freedom?
The question also carries domestic political implications. Pashinyan wants Armenia’s three former presidents to debate him, to become his rivals and eventually lose to him in upcoming parliamentary elections. In 2021, the teams of Armenia’s second and third presidents secured the parliamentary opposition niche. Pashinyan likely aims to repeat that success by drawing Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s allies into parliament as well. For this reason, he makes provocative statements designed to elicit reactions, pulling the three presidents into direct or indirect debates—so that the impression is created that the main contest in the next elections will be between Pashinyan and the three former leaders.
Ultimately, the danger of such a statement lies in its social-psychological impact. If the notion takes root that it was wrong for Armenian soldiers to fight for their people’s freedom in Artsakh, then this false perception will become entrenched. And tomorrow, Armenian soldiers may no longer fight for the freedom of their people.

Tatul Mkrtchyan