Editor says Pashinyan appears 'anxious and fearful' ahead of elections

Armine Ohanyan, the editor-in-chief of Hraparak daily, claims that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party are showing signs of nervousness and uncertainty as elections approach, accusing the government of trying to restrict press freedom and silence critical voices.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ohanyan argued that the authorities have attempted to “restrain and intimidate” journalists through lawsuits, criminal cases and hostile rhetoric. She said reporters have developed resilience against such pressure, emphasizing that “freedom of speech is a natural demand and one of the most important achievements of the past 30–40 years in Armenia.”

Ohanyan criticized Pashinyan’s team for failing to bring in new members since 2018, claiming that many capable figures have left while those remaining act as “button-pushers” loyal to the prime minister. She compared current officials to controversial figures from Armenia’s former governments, saying they differ little despite their claims of European education.

According to Ohanyan, Pashinyan fears the power of words because his own rise to office was fueled by public discourse and protest. “He knows that people with the power of speech could take away his authority,” she said.

The editor described the government’s recent behavior as “nervous, unbalanced and hysterical,” adding that Pashinyan himself appears unsettled. “He is anxious, fearful and does not know what awaits him in the future,” she said, adding the upcoming elections have placed the ruling party in a “very tense state”.

Ohanyan concluded that the government’s unease stems from the possibility that it may fail to secure reelection.