How Nikol Pashinyan Deceived the Armenian People: Episode 6

On April 15, 2018, as he courted public support, Nikol Pashinyan expressed what proved to be performative concern for citizens burdened by bank debt:

“Today, dozens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, citizens of the Republic of Armenia are literally bending under overdue bank interest rates…”

“We believe that it is definitely and unequivocally necessary to nullify all the fines and penalties for overdue consumer and agricultural loans. All without an exception.”

Having secured mass support during the “Velvet Revolution” and become prime minister, Pashinyan quickly abandoned those commitments. A telling example came on March 25, 2020, when MP Tigran Urikhanyan proposed measures to relieve borrowers during the COVID-19 lockdown:

“Adopt a decision, so that the people know that if they fail to pay for the service of their loans, there will be a decision for them. For instance, freezing of the accrued interests or any other decision,” Urikhanyan proposed.

Rather than endorse relief, Pashinyan -who once vowed to erase penalties and protect indebted citizens - replied with scorn and sarcasm, rejecting the idea of broad debt relief or benefits during the lockdown of 2020:

“I will be direct. How do you… Let’s exempt them from taxes, borrowings, let’s distribute them food, let’s not take payments for utilities. Are you serious?

Let’s make a legislative initiative and distribute 10,000 USD to every citizen of Armenia, in some cases by confiscating the property. Of course, we will do that! Go on! Propose a bill, make a consensus in the parliament, distribute 10,000, no, 50,000 to everyone. Look at them! They come here and demand to ‘except taxes, loans… Are you kidding? I have got the impression that you are the one to divide the people. Go and distribute the wealth of your entourage. That’s enough!’”