Armenian deputy speaker leaves ruling party list ahead of 2026 elections

Armenian Parliament Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan has confirmed that he will forgo seeking re-election on the ruling party’s list in next year’s polls.

As Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media, Arshakyan informed journalists of his decision, effectively signalling the end of his current political career.

Media outlets note that as early as October, reports indicated that Arshakyan was considering a return to the high-tech sector — the industry from which he originally entered politics. His departure from the electoral list appears to align with those earlier indications.

Sources close to Arshakyan suggest he could be placed on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s informal “blacklist.”

The paper views his exclusion from the party’s most recent congress — reportedly over failure to pay the 30,000-dram (approximately $78.6) membership fee — as an indirect sign of tensions between him and the leadership.

When asked directly about the possibility of resignation, Arshakyan replied: “Everything I will say, I will say publicly,” offering no further comment. While he did not confirm the reports, he also did not deny them.

Arshakyan has served as deputy speaker of the National Assembly since 2021. Before that, he held the post of Minister of Transportation, Communications and Information Technologies.

By Vafa Guliyeva