Pashinyan reflects on imperialism, patriotism, peace at Civil Contract congress

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the 7th Congress of the Civil Contract party on September 20, reflecting on the country’s path to peace and the meaning of patriotism in Armenia affected by Soviet imperialism. 

Pashinyan began by criticising the imperialist legacy of the Soviet Union, arguing that Armenia’s traditional model of patriotism had been shaped and constrained by Soviet leaders, including Stalin, Khrushchev, and Brezhnev, Caliber.Az reprts via Armenian media.

He said that during the Soviet era, patriotic sentiment was often directed outside Armenia, even outside the Soviet republic, as a means of preventing the Armenian people from building a sovereign and independent state.

According to Pashinyan, cultural works from the 1940s to the 1980s—books, poems, songs, plays, and art—attempted to convey the true feelings and aspirations of the Armenian people, but were ultimately restricted by Soviet censorship. He added that the Soviet system combined “business with pleasure” by exploiting Armenian patriotism to serve the empire’s ambitions while enforcing internal divisions.

Turning to the contemporary period, Pashinyan recounted how, despite criticism from Armenia’s political and cultural elite, many Armenian mothers expressed gratitude for his government’s efforts to preserve peace and save military lives. He said he asked them why they were thankful, and they responded that his policies had prevented a larger number of casualties and safeguarded the country, emphasising that their primary desire was peace.

Pashinyan acknowledged the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Armenia’s future but stressed that the pursuit of peace remains central.

He reflected on his 2019 statement that “Artsakh [Karabakh —  ed.] is Armenia,” explaining that it had been motivated by "patriotism according to the prevailing model of the time." He said that his understanding of patriotism has since evolved, shaped by the expectations of Armenian citizens who prioritise peace. He stressed that his commitment to Armenia has not diminished; rather, it has adapted to a new model of patriotism in which safeguarding lives and achieving peace are paramount.

By Sabina Mammadli