FM: Armenia could face immediate war if opposition takes power

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan warned that the country could swiftly be drawn into a new conflict if opposition forces come to power, backing earlier remarks by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Speaking at a briefing in the National Assembly, Mirzoyan clarified Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia could face war as early as September 2026 under an opposition-led government, describing the timeline as “conditional” and indicative of a short period following elections rather than a fixed date, Armenian media reports.

“The prospect itself is real,” Mirzoyan said, pointing to what he described as the ideology of certain opposition groups, which he claimed is rooted in territorial claims against neighbouring states. “If such forces come to power, tensions with neighbours would arise immediately,” he added.

Mirzoyan argued that, given current international dynamics and how disputes are often resolved, such tensions could quickly escalate into armed conflict. He stressed that the government’s priority is to secure peace, warning that without it, Armenia’s long-term stability and even its sovereignty could be at risk.

“Peace is our proposal to the citizens,” he said, dismissing suggestions that the government’s messaging amounts to political pressure or blackmail.

Responding to criticism that the current administration had led the country into war, Mirzoyan rejected the accusation, stating that past conflicts were the result of more than three decades of flawed policies rather than decisions taken by the present government.

By Aghakazim Guliyev