The Armenian opposition has announced plans to stage street demonstrations in response to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s remarks about recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, an approach that would encompass Nagorno-Karabakh. The declaration came from Ishkhan Saghatelyan, the deputy representative of the Dashnaktsutyun party, and was reported by TASS at the time of the briefing.
During a May press conference, Pashinyan indicated that Azerbaijan’s entire claim to territorial sovereignty could extend to Nagorno-Karabakh, a stance that would reshape the regional status quo and has drawn immediate political reaction inside Armenia. Saghatelyan emphasized that the opposition views this as a concession that undermines national interests and calls for a broad response from the Armenian public and political actors alike.
According to Saghatelyan, a three-way meeting in Moscow is anticipated for May 25, involving Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He described the talks as a potential prelude to further negotiations in Chisinau and Brussels, suggesting that the discussions could set the framework for a broader settlement or, in his view, a shift in leverage that would affect Nagorno-Karabakh’s status.
In Saghatelyan’s assessment, the Armenian side must guard against any agreement that could be interpreted as a surrender. He asserted that there were only a few months available to prevent such an outcome and signaled the likelihood of protests and acts of civil disobedience should political avenues fail to produce a more favorable result. This stance reflects the ongoing tension between independence-minded factions within Armenia and the government’s pursuit of what it sees as stabilizing negotiations with regional powers.
The opposition leader further argued that the Armenian people, facing what he described as a pressure-filled political environment, might be compelled to express their dissatisfaction through collective action. He framed the present moment as one of national mobilization, underscoring a belief that ordinary citizens should have a voice in decisions that touch on sovereignty, border recognition, and the future of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Historically, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has deep roots dating back to the late 1980s, when ethnic tensions escalated into a broader confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The fighting intensified again at the end of September 2020, resulting in significant casualties among soldiers and civilians and marking a painful resurgence of a crisis that has haunted the region for decades. The pain and fear from those events continue to shape political narratives and public expectations in both countries.
In the wake of recent ceasefire efforts, leaders from Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan reached a joint declaration on a ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 10, 2022. Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the Karabakh region to help enforce the agreement and monitor ceasefire provisions. Over the course of the agreement, control of several strategic areas shifted: the Aghdam region on November 20, the Kelbajar region on November 15, and the Lachin corridor on December 1 became part of Azerbaijan’s administrative control as part of the disengagement and redrawn lines associated with the accord.
The evolving security and political landscape in the South Caucasus continues to influence Armenian domestic politics and diplomatic calculations. Contact among Armenian lawmakers, opposition blocs, and international partners remains a focal point as stakeholders navigate issues of sovereignty, regional stability, and the practical implications of any future recognition posture for Nagorno-Karabakh. Observers note that the outcomes of ongoing discussions, public responses, and external mediation efforts will likely shape the contours of policy and protest in the months ahead, underscoring the fragile balance between national ambitions and the realities of regional geopolitics.