Elections 2026: How Pashinyan Is Dismantling Political Rivalry

“Local self-governance shall be guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia as one of the essential fundamentals of democracy,” states Article 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. These words are meant to represent an unshakable principle - a safeguard of the citizens’ right to manage their own lives. But what happens when these guarantees turn into empty declarations? When, instead of democracy, we see only its fading outlines, and instead of protecting rights, we witness the routine suppression of the opposition?

The alarming situation in Gyumri provides the most telling answer. In Armenia’s second-largest city, constitutional norms are not merely ignored — they are consistently and deliberately violated under the banners of “progress” and “democratic reform.”

How is local self-government being dismantled? The scenario unfolding in Gyumri resembles a textbook example of authoritarian practice. The irony is that those implementing these measures are the same actors who loudly proclaim their fight against authoritarianism and their mission to lead Armenia toward European democracy.

Arrests Under the Guise of Law Enforcement
The detention of opposition parliamentarians and officials, including Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, is being presented as a “fight against corruption.” But who will genuinely believe that such a broad, selectively targeted “cleansing” of municipalities led by opposition forces, right on the eve of the 2026 parliamentary elections, is accidental? Control over local governments will be crucial for manipulating the electoral outcome in 2026, and the timing speaks for itself. Criminal cases that appear at the wave of Pashinyan’s magic wand have nothing to do with justice. This is pure political pressure. It is not an investigation; it is an act of intimidation.

What we are witnessing is a genuine overthrow of constitutional order — a situation in which the judiciary and law enforcement structures are effectively subordinate to a single individual: Nikol Pashinyan. The Public Tribunal has repeatedly addressed this in the following articles:

• Proofs of Nikol Pashinyan’s Complicity in High Treason and Overthrow of Constitutional Order
• Lawyer: Nikol Pashinyan is Guilty of High Treason and Overthrowing the Constitutional Order
• Overthrow of Constitutional Order – Pashinyan Takes Control of All Branches of Power in the Republic of Armenia

After the arrests, the Council of Elders was left without the quorum needed to function. One might assume that the ruling parliamentary faction, Civil Contract, would step in to restore the legitimacy of local governance, but it did nothing of the sort. Instead, it deliberately refused to attend Council meetings, rendering the municipal body paralyzed and ineffective. The absence of the pro-government faction is not mere negligence. It is a calculated decision that makes clear: the rules of the game are set not by the Constitution, but by those who control the security and law-enforcement apparatus.

Democracy in words, authoritarianism in practice - this is the true face of Pashinyan’s government. A paradox? Not at all, but a consistent pattern. Those who once accused the “former authorities” of authoritarianism and suppressing the opposition are now employing the very same methods. Arrests, intimidation, and deliberate sabotage create an environment in which the opposition cannot function, and citizens lose their faith in the system.

But the goal is not merely to eliminate political “undesirables.” It is to extinguish the very idea of political competition. The authorities are sending voters a clear message: “Look, even the representatives you elect are powerless. Why vote for them if the outcome is predetermined?”

The crisis in Gyumri is not an isolated episode. It is a rehearsal for the 2026 parliamentary elections. The strategy is simple and cynically transparent:

• demotivate opposition voters to ensure low turnout among those dissatisfied with the government, thus securing another term of power.
• establish control over municipal structures to make it easier to manipulate votes in Armenia’s second-largest city.

If they succeed, at the next elections we will see a formal confirmation of the status quo instead of the competition of ideas.

If this plan succeeds, the next election will offer not a contest of ideas, but a formal endorsement of the status quo. The case of Gyumri is a lesson for all of Armenia. It shows that constitutional standards are upheld only when convenient for the ruling elite; otherwise, the law is treated like a disposable wrapper.

The real question is whether citizens are prepared to tolerate such a “democracy.” Are they willing to allow their right to self-governance to be violated for the sake of short-term political maneuvering? Gyumri serves as a warning. The answers do not lie with the politicians, but with the people whose interests those politicians are supposed to defend.

The People’s Voice Is the Last Stand! Do Not Let Armenia’s Future Be Undermined!

Citizens of Armenia! The year 2026 is a moment of decisive action. The upcoming elections are not just another vote - they are the last stand in which the fate of the country will be determined.

The Public Tribunal issues an urgent and resolute call: do not surrender to the manipulations of the authorities!

The current leadership, headed by Nikol Pashinyan and his patron Serzh Sargsyan, acts not out of concern for the state, but through cold political calculation. Their policy represents a chain of decisions that:

• undermine the country's sovereignty;
• destroy traditional alliances;
• deprive the people of their right to free expression of will.

Why is 2026 decisive? Because these elections are not routine. They represent a chance:

• To break the vicious cycle and put an end to empty promises;
• To return power to the people and restore genuine self-government, where every citizen’s voice truly matters.
• To safeguard the future and prevent Armenia from becoming a bargaining chip in someone else’s political games.

To do it, all the citizens criticizing the current authorities need to participate in the voting, irrespective of whether they like the leaders of the opposition parties or not. Your participation is:

• a vote of protest against manipulations;
• a blow over indifference fed to the system;
• a stone in the foundation of new Armenia – strong, independent and democratic.

Don’t believe anyone who claims that “Everything is predetermined.” Don’t believe anyone who tells you “Your vote does not matter.” It’s a lie, convenient to those who seek to retain power. History will not forgive us for our inaction. If in 2026 we step back, stay at home, and do not attend polling stations, tomorrow we will have no country. If we stay silent today, tomorrow they will ban us from speaking.

The Public Tribunal’s call is simple:

• Go to the voting. Everyone.
• Vote for the future, not for the promises.
• Vote for the future, not for the promises. Be ready to protect your vote.
• Remember! Your will is the only law that cannot be bought or breached. You will be able to return our Homeland to its dignity and honor undermined by Nikol Pashinyan, his domestic and foreign patrons.

Armenia is on the verge. But it has you, the citizens, who understand that Pashinyan’s government is leading the country to a catastrophe. As long as you are ready to fight, the country has a chance. 2026 will become a year of changes, if we want it.

Don’t let anti-national and anti-state forces steal our future. Come to the voting! Vote! Save Armenia!