Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that his primary objective is not his own re-election, but ensuring that the citizens maintain the ultimate authority to decide the country's leadership.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media outlets, that the Prime Minister made these remarks during a meeting with residents of Verin Artashat village in the Ararat region as part of an early outreach campaign.
Addressing the issue of governance and transparency, Pashinyan issued a stern warning against the misappropriation of public funds, stating he considers anyone who embezzles even a single penny from the state budget as a personal enemy. "Taking a penny from the state budget means taking it from the people. You are the state; you are the owners and leaders of the Republic of Armenia. The Prime Minister is merely an employee, and you decide who that employee will be," he told the gathered citizens. He further emphasized that if the electorate decides he should no longer hold office in the future, he will fully accept and respect that decision.
The Prime Minister also touched upon the regional diplomatic landscape, congratulating citizens on the progress toward establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He noted that the central theme of the upcoming 2026 elections will be whether the people choose to continue the struggle for a lasting peace. According to Pashinyan, the independence, prosperity, and stability of the nation can only be guaranteed through a finalized peace process.
The ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia aim to normalize relations following decades of conflict. Azerbaijan has consistently advocated for the signing of a peace treaty based on the principles of international law, including the mutual recognition of territorial integrity and the delimitation of state borders. The process remains a focal point for regional stability in the South Caucasus, with Baku emphasizing the importance of removing constitutional obstacles to a permanent settlement.
