As the June 7 parliamentary election approaches, the government’s panic or what the public calls “the jitters” is becoming increasingly apparent across various platforms. It seems Nikol Pashinyan’s political team has exhausted its creative reserves and is now reduced to clutching at straws. A case in point is a tasteless poster circulating on social media bearing the slogan: “Return to Armenia. There is no Armenia without Pashinyan.” Notably, the original Armenian text contains a grammatical error. Alongside Pashinyan’s portrait, featuring the “heart” symbol and branding associated with the Civil Contract (CC) party, appears a map of the Republic of Armenia.
The latter part of the advertisement, which makes the very existence of the state dependent on a single individual, is indefensible, particularly when that individual is as spineless as Pashinyan. The poster can only be described as propaganda defect. “This is the same blueprint used to build every dictatorship in history, from Stalin’s to North Korea’s. Identifying the state with a single person means only one thing: you, as a citizen, no longer exist,” wrote Kristine Vardanyan, an MP from the Hayastan (Armenia) faction of the National Assembly. The poster has also been met with sharp and well-deserved public ridicule.
According to Factor.am, the controversial campaign material originated from and was disseminated through video footage captured by Sarik Minasyan, head of the Civil Contract faction in the Gyumri City Council. He posted the footage on April 25 while celebrating Citizen’s Day with residents and participating in a barbecue gathering. The outlet reporter asked Minasyan whether the idea for the advertisement originated with him or the CC party. “The citizen made it voluntarily; it is his wish, his mindset,” he replied. According to Minasyan, the author of the poster is from the village of Voskehask and currently resides in Russia but has decided to return to his birthplace.
Although the CC member of the Gyumri Council attempts to convince the public that he does not share the author’s views, the surrounding circumstances suggest otherwise. Had Minasyan disagreed with the notion that “there is no Armenia without Pashinyan,” he would not have shared such a reality-distorting message on his Facebook page. This appears to be an effort to widely promote the idea of the “irreplaceability” of a leader whom this outlet characterizes as a traitor of the nation, a weak administrator, and an incompetent negotiator. But is this mischievous figure who, according to critics, has brought numerous disasters upon the nation truly irreplaceable? According to his claims, during regional visits every second resident would approach them to express gratitude.
To be honest, having followed these visits closely for a long time, we have never seen even a single citizen expressing genuine gratitude, aside from carefully staged episodes. On the contrary, there have been multiple instances of people openly confronting him. Frankly speaking, what exactly should people thank him for? For surrendering Artsakh to the enemy? For knowingly leading an entire generation to its deaths — something he himself recently appeared to acknowledge? Or for gradually handing over parts of Armenia’s sovereign territory to Ilham Aliyev piece by piece while silently complying with all his demands?
They say that when a person’s mind becomes clouded, reckless and dangerous thoughts begin to emerge. History recalls how Nero burned Rome in pursuit of power. In much the same way, our own power-obsessed leader appears to be dismantling Armenia step by step. We witnessed the handover of Berdzor, Karvachar, and Aghdam, followed by the Kovsakan section stretching from Kapan to Berdzor — territory that was not even mentioned in the November 9 statement. The sequence of concessions, according to critics, continued as follows: in 2021, strategic heights stretching from Goris to Sotk; in 2022, concessions in Jermuk, Nerkin Hand, and Verin Shorzha; in 2023, the entirety of Artsakh; in 2024, the border villages of Tavush; and in 2025, the corridor through Meghri.
And this is not yet the end. In 2026 new disasters await the Armenian people. Next in line are the so-called enclaves, Syunik, and the “return” of 300,000 Azerbaijanis (whom it is incorrect to call refugees). According to well-informed sources, Pashinyan has already given his consent for this to Shahin Mustafayev, the deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan, who arrived in Yerevan several days ago. In conclusion, the only way to stop this process is to prevent Pashinyan's reelection.
“Hayatsk Yerevanits” Journal