Ex-foreign minister urges Armenian American community to reject meeting with Pashinyan

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian calls on the Armenian American community to reject a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and not to give him legitimacy. Below is his full appeal issued on Sunday.

"Dear Members of the Armenian American Community and Representative Organizations,

I write to you today with an appeal as you consider the invitation to meet with Nikol Pashinyan on February 3 at the Armenian Embassy. This meeting is not a mere diplomatic formality—it is a calculated attempt by a leader to salvage his shattered reputation by seeking your audience. I urge you not to attend and to refuse to be used as a prop in his desperate bid for credibility.

Pashinyan is a failed leader who has presided over the most devastating period in modern Armenian history. Under his rule, Armenia has suffered catastrophic territorial losses, military defeat, and national humiliation. The complete fall of Nagorno-Karabakh, the displacement of 150,000 Armenians, and the deaths of thousands of young soldiers are direct consequences of his reckless, incompetent, and short-sighted policies. Pashinyan stands as the primary and sole obstacle to the inclusion of the right of return for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh on the international agenda, despite clear readiness and willingness from the global community to address and support this fundamental right.

Today, Armenian prisoners remain in Azerbaijani captivity, parts of Armenia’s sovereign land have been ceded, and new concessions loom on the horizon—all under his watch. His government’s actions have eroded Armenia’s security, dignity, and standing in the world. His continued presence in power is a direct threat to the survival of the Armenian nation.

The Armenian people have rendered their verdict on Pashinyan. According to the latest polls, only 10% of Armenians support him. A leader with such dismal backing, who governs through fear and misinformation rather than legitimacy and competence, has no right to speak on behalf of the Armenian people. His very presence at the Armenian Embassy in Washington is an insult to the Diaspora, which has stood firm in its commitment to the survival and dignity of the Armenian nation.

Pashinyan’s grip on power is not rooted in democratic legitimacy but in systemic corruption and institutional decay. Armenia’s once-hopeful democracy has deteriorated into one-man rule, where a captured judiciary, a muzzled press, and a weakened civil society serve only to shield his administration from accountability.

On the eve of his departure to Washington, he attempted to prosecute an Armenian individual merely for drawing public and official attention by posting a video about demeaning acts committed by a group of Azeris in Republic Square.

His government has entrenched a culture of corruption, channeling public funds into the pockets of loyalists while leaving citizens disillusioned and impoverished. Meanwhile, political polarization and mistrust have fractured Armenian society, making unity and collective action nearly impossible. These are not the hallmarks of a leader working for his people but of an opportunist clinging to power at any cost.

Perhaps the most disgraceful act of Pashinyan’s tenure is his recent rhetoric on the Armenian Genocide. For an Armenian leader to distort or downplay the greatest tragedy in our history is nothing short of a betrayal. This is a shocking development that should give every Armenian—especially those in the Diaspora—pause. If he is willing to rewrite history to suit his political interests, what else is he willing to compromise?

If you still decide to attend this meeting, be clear about the person sitting before you. This is a man who has led Armenia to ruin, who has surrendered Armenian lands, who has abandoned his own people, and who has lost the confidence of the vast majority of Armenians. Do not allow yourself to be manipulated. Challenge him. Demand answers. Hold him accountable.

This is not just a political moment—it is a test of conscience. Standing against Pashinyan is standing for Armenia’s dignity, security, and future."