Opposition MP: Pashinyan does not defend Armenia, let alone Russia

Armenian opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of failing to defend Armenia’s national interests, dismissing criticism from Russian analysts who questioned why the Armenian leader did not respond to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s harsh rhetoric against Russia.

“I am surprised when Russian figures complain that Nikol Pashinyan did not react to Volodymyr Zelensky’s aggressive rhetoric targeting Russia,” he wrote on Facebook.

Abrahamyan, a member of the Pativ Unem faction, argued that expectations for Pashinyan to diplomatically defend Russia are misplaced, asserting that the Armenian prime minister has failed to adequately defend Armenia itself.

Referring to the recent EPC summit in Yerevan, Abrahamyan noted that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev publicly accused Armenia of separatism during a live broadcast. He also emphasized that Azerbaijani authorities demolished two churches in Stepanakert on the eve of the event.

Despite these developments, Abrahamyan said Pashinyan, who chaired the session, responded to Aliyev “with a smile and words of gratitude”, which he described as effectively legitimizing Azerbaijani actions.

“This man does not defend the interests of his own country and people, let alone respond to anti-Russian statements,” Abrahamyan said.