Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. AFP File photo
Top Armenian security officials and ministers resigned on Monday following Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's demand for their resignation and his criticism of their inability to combat corruption. Despite opposition attempts to incite street protests this spring over his handling of the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan, Pashinyan's leadership remains steadfast. Early on Monday, Interior Minister Vahe Ghazaryan stepped down, along with the minister for territorial administration, the head of the Anti-Corruption Committee, the head of the Investigative Committee, and the chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council. The prime minister of the Caucasus nation posted on Facebook that he "requested several high-ranking officials to resign from their positions." He clarified that "the reasons for this request are systemic, not personal." During a government session on Friday, Pashinyan strongly criticized the performance of security agencies, stating they were not effectively combating corruption. "People need to witness the outcomes of the substantial investments in the judiciary and legal system," he emphasized. "Citizens are anticipating justice and fairness... Corrupt individuals who should be held accountable are enjoying their time in restaurants." Opposition leader Tigran Abrahamyan accused Pashinyan of attempting to "transfer blame for failures onto scapegoats" and "shed his team's negative legacy" ahead of parliamentary elections in a year and a half. Political analyst Vigen Hakobyan noted that "Pashinyan is merely preparing for elections," after promising to crack down on corrupt former officials and recover embezzled assets. "He failed to fulfill his electoral pledges and is concerned about this as elections draw near." Pashinyan has maintained his position after months of opposition rallies demanding his impeachment over territorial concessions to neighboring Azerbaijan. The former journalist rose to power through a peaceful revolution in 2018 and secured a decisive election victory in 2021.
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