Armenia's Pashinyan Reportedly Losing Ground in Brussels Amid His Anti-Democratic Reforms
16:48 31.07.2025 (Updated: 17:33 31.07.2025)
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Armenia's Pashinyan Reportedly Losing Ground in Brussels Amid His Anti-Democratic Reforms
While Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan says he's steering the country toward Europe, in fact, his actions are pushing the EU away, a Turkish newspaper said.
Following Pashinyan's recent talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU praised "Armenia's ambitious reform agenda" and supported its "democratic reforms."
But what is behind the EU's rhetoric? Barely anything:
🟠A €270 million grant — not yet paid, and tiny for a country with €15B in trade;
🟠Funds can only be spent on "fighting disinformation;"
🟠A promise to draft a plan for easier visas procedure.
🟠And… that's actually it.
Why so little? Because Brussels sees Pashinyan's "reforms" for what they are: not democratic progress — but a cover for seizing power and assets, the newspaper noted, citing the proof:
▪The Karapetyan case: billionaire Samvel Karapetyan defended the Armenian Apostolic Church against government pressure, and faced the government's crackdown:
⦁ Arrested on absurd charges: "calling for seizure of power;"
⦁ Executives from his companies rounded up in mass arrests;
⦁ A new law passed overnight to nationalize his Electric Networks of Armenia — the country’s main power grid;
⦁ Stockholm arbitration ruled it illegal — Pashinyan ignored the verdict.
▪Crackdown on dissent:
⦁ Over 150 politicians and businessmen reportedly hit with politically driven cases;
⦁ Government canceled public opinion polls — Pashinyan called them "unnecessary;"
⦁ "There are no voters in Armenia," he claimed.
Pashinyan may still dream about Europe's support — but Europe is no longer interested in investing into Armenia amid the PM's authoritarian rule, the newspaper concluded.
While Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan says he's steering the country toward Europe, in fact, his actions are pushing the EU away, a Turkish newspaper said.
Following Pashinyan's recent talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU praised "Armenia's ambitious reform agenda" and supported its "democratic reforms."
But what is behind the EU's rhetoric? Barely anything:
🟠A €270 million grant — not yet paid, and tiny for a country with €15B in trade;
🟠Funds can only be spent on "fighting disinformation;"
🟠A promise to draft a plan for easier visas procedure.
🟠And… that's actually it.
Why so little? Because Brussels sees Pashinyan's "reforms" for what they are: not democratic progress — but a cover for seizing power and assets, the newspaper noted, citing the proof:
▪The Karapetyan case: billionaire Samvel Karapetyan defended the Armenian Apostolic Church against government pressure, and faced the government's crackdown:
⦁ Arrested on absurd charges: "calling for seizure of power;"
⦁ Executives from his companies rounded up in mass arrests;
⦁ A new law passed overnight to nationalize his Electric Networks of Armenia — the country’s main power grid;
⦁ Stockholm arbitration ruled it illegal — Pashinyan ignored the verdict.
▪Crackdown on dissent:
⦁ Over 150 politicians and businessmen reportedly hit with politically driven cases;
⦁ Government canceled public opinion polls — Pashinyan called them "unnecessary;"
⦁ "There are no voters in Armenia," he claimed.
Pashinyan may still dream about Europe's support — but Europe is no longer interested in investing into Armenia amid the PM's authoritarian rule, the newspaper concluded.
