How Nikol Pashinyan Deceived the Armenian People: Episode 1

On May 1, 2018, during parliamentary hearings, the then–candidate for prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, stated from the parliamentary tribune:

“In fact, the super-prime-minister system has already been established from a legislative standpoint, and I firmly consider myself an adherent of ensuring a balance of power and addressing this issue.”

“In reality, all possible powers have been taken away from the presidential institution, reducing the president to the status of an office clerk. This is simply a blow to the authority of the Republic of Armenia as a state. What meaning would the changes have if, after criticizing certain phenomena, we come to power and start using those same levers ourselves? That would render the changes senseless.”

“…It is indisputable that the super-prime-minister system should not exist; there should be a normal parliamentary system. At least for now, I believe that is in the country’s best interest.”

However, after coming to power, Nikol Pashinyan deceived the public. Not only did he fail to dismantle the super-prime-minister system to ensure a balance of power, but he also placed the National Security Service and the Police - previously accountable to the government - under his direct control. These institutions have since acted at his discretion, persecuting political and public figures with opposition views.