Pashinyan and allies became 'dollar millionaires', opposition figure claims

Armenian opposition politician Andranik Tevanyan on Thursday accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of committing “treason” during the October 2022 Prague meeting, alleging that Pashinyan effectively recognized Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as part of Azerbaijan.

Speaking at a press briefing, Tevanyan, who is listed as second on the electoral list of the Prosperous Armenia Party, referred to Armenia’s participation in the European Political Community summit in Prague, where European and regional leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and U.S. President Joe Biden (remotely), were present.

Tevanyan claimed that statements and agreements associated with the Prague meeting amounted to the “surrender of Artsakh to Azerbaijan,” arguing that Western actors were pursuing broader geopolitical objectives in their standoff with Russia, with Armenia positioned as a “pawn” in the process. He said Pashinyan had accepted this role in exchange for perceived international backing for his government.

He also pointed to subsequent developments, including Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor and the mass displacement of ethnic Armenians from Artsakh following a military offensive in September 2023. He criticized the Armenian government for its failure to intervene effectively during the crisis.

Tevanyan said that following a change of power, Pashinyan would face prosecution for “state treason,” adding that the prime minister was aware of such risks.

He further called for clarification on Armenia’s state debt, which he said stood at around $8 billion, and claimed that Pashinyan and members of his political circle had become “dollar millionaires,” while an associated businessman had become a billionaire.