Former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan believes Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s rally in Etchmiadzin should be canceled to prevent further escalation.
In a Facebook post, Ter-Petrosyan wrote that while unrest is typically initiated by opposition forces, “in Armenia, the opposite is true—Pashinyan himself is fueling the tension.” He called for the release of political prisoners, namely Archbishops Bagrat and Mikael, and Samvel Karapetyan.
“The Armenian Prime Minister has come up with yet another brilliant idea—to organize a massive rally, right next to the Mother See. What is this if not a deliberate provocation aimed at crushing the Church through the crowd?” Ter-Petrosyan asked.
He argued that the Church’s followers far outnumber Pashinyan’s supporters, and the prime minister’s real goal is to undermine that power, perhaps aspiring to be praised like Nero. He labeled the move dangerous and irresponsible, particularly given that the government’s role is to ensure national stability and public safety. Instead, he asserted, “every step the Armenian authorities take aims to disrupt stability and incite chaos.”
Ter-Petrosyan emphasized that countering external threats requires domestic stability. Only through internal calm can parties engage in constructive, bilateral dialogue. That means putting an end to mutual insults and threats, and acting in the nation’s interest—even on the most difficult issues.
He reiterated that the primary duty of any government is to secure political stability. “Usually, it’s opposition parties that provoke unrest. In Armenia, it’s the exact opposite. Suffering from a megalomania syndrome, Pashinyan typically intensifies tensions himself.”
Ter-Petrosyan argued that canceling the planned rally and freeing the mentioned detainees would significantly ease internal conflict. “This is the only way to reduce Armenia’s political tension today. I’m convinced that far from damaging Pashinyan’s reputation, such a statesmanlike move would be appreciated by Armenians worldwide. It would also strengthen Armenia’s hand in negotiations with external powers.”
He added, “It’s obvious that the more complex the domestic situation becomes, the weaker our position in foreign relations.”
During a press conference, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the Mother See would be ‘liberated just like Armenia was freed from Serzh Sargsyan in 2018.’ He later urged people to prepare for a ‘Great Spiritual Meeting in the central square of Etchmiadzin.’
