Armenia rejects Belarus-style governance, parliament speaker says

Armenia will not follow a governance model akin to that of Belarus and remains committed to strengthening its sovereignty and democratic institutions, National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Simonyan declined to directly address criticism from Belarus, stating, “Belarus is Belarus, Armenia is Armenia. I am responsible for my country.”

The remarks follow a protest from Belarus’s Foreign Ministry over Simonyan’s earlier assertion that Armenia “should not be governed the way Belarus is.” Minsk described his comments as “unfriendly” and accused the Armenian authorities of engaging in pre-election populism and attempting to divert public attention from domestic challenges.

Asked whether the exchange could further strain bilateral ties, Simonyan said relations were being undermined by “disrespectful attitudes” toward Armenia’s statehood and interests, including its support for Azerbaijan during the 2020 war.

Simonyan emphasized that Armenia’s political trajectory is defined by democratic values. “Human rights, freedoms and the rule of law are fundamental for us,” he said. “Each country chooses its own path. We have chosen democratization, others have taken a different route.”

He added that Armenia would not become politically dependent on any external power. “Armenia will not be a periphery,” Simonyan said. “We will raise the level of our sovereignty. The Belarusian model of governance is unacceptable for me and my country.”