Former FM warns of deeper economic troubles if Pashinyan remains in power

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on Tuesday strongly criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his handling of Armenia’s foreign policy, warning that the country’s economic situation would deteriorate further if Pashinyan stays in office.

Speaking during a Facebook livestream, Oskanian said Russian President Vladimir Putin had recently forced Pashinyan to confront what he described as a strategic choice between Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and closer integration with the European Union.

Oskanian accused Pashinyan of responding with “a major diplomatic mistake” after the prime minister said Armenia would continue balancing both directions “as long as there is no contradiction” and would make a decision later if conflicts emerge.

“Frankly, even a seventh-grade student probably would not give such an answer,” Oskanian remarked.

He said he initially believed Pashinyan had been caught off guard during the exchange in Moscow and had responded spontaneously, but later concluded the prime minister intentionally stood by the same position after repeating it to reporters.

Oskanian argued that Armenia’s recent diplomatic setbacks and security challenges stem from Pashinyan’s lack of diplomatic understanding.

“From the very first day, the disasters that Pashinyan has brought upon us have resulted from the fact that he is miles away from diplomacy,” Oskanian said. “Even today, he does not understand what diplomacy is, and during these eight years he has learned absolutely nothing.”

He also criticized Armenia’s participation in the European Political Community summit, calling it another diplomatic error that further strained ties with Russia.

According to Oskanian, Armenia had never before been placed in a position where it faced a choice between Russia and Europe. He claimed Armenia-EU relations are currently at their lowest level in three decades despite the government’s stated efforts to deepen cooperation with Brussels.

Oskanian said previous Armenian administrations maintained more substantive relations with both the EU and NATO, noting that all NATO secretaries-general had visited Armenia in the past.

He also accused the government of stalling the EU visa liberalization process because of issues related to biometric passports, arguing that earlier efforts under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement were more realistic and productive.

Oskanian further alleged that Pashinyan had entered into political arrangements from which he could no longer withdraw, adding that “the only solution is Pashinyan’s removal”, which he said remains possible.

He also dismissed Pashinyan’s repeated claims that Armenia will face a new war if his political rivals win the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“That is an absolute lie,” Oskanian said, arguing that no opposition candidate has proposed policies that would lead to war.

“At the same time, it is an absolute reality that if Pashinyan is re-elected, Armenia’s economic situation will become much more severe,” he said, citing Putin’s recent remarks as supporting evidence.