Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s disgraceful outburst against a displaced Artsakh Armenian woman in Yerevan once again exposed his contempt for the very people who suffered the consequences of his disastrous leadership.
During a campaign appearance on the Yerevan metro, Pashinyan entered into a heated exchange with a young mother from Artsakh after she refused to accept a badge depicting Armenia without Artsakh. Angered by her rejection, he reportedly lashed out and referred to Artsakh Armenians as “runaways,” while again trying to evade responsibility for the surrender and depopulation of Artsakh.
This shameful episode comes as Pashinyan seeks reelection ahead of the June parliamentary elections, presenting his so-called “peace” agenda as irreversible. In reality, his policies paved the way for Azerbaijan’s blockade, assault, and the forced displacement of more than 100,000 Armenians from their ancestral homeland.
Although Pashinyan later tried to walk back his remarks and issued an apology, the damage was already done. His words were not a simple emotional misstep. They reflected the mindset of a leader who has repeatedly insulted national memory, normalized defeat, and shown open insensitivity toward the displaced people of Artsakh.
Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, Anahit Manasyan, responded by calling on public officials to show restraint and sensitivity when addressing forcibly displaced persons. But the issue is deeper than rhetoric. Pashinyan’s conduct was not merely inappropriate. It was morally revealing.
