Pressure mounts on Armenian PM amid uncertainty over Victory Day parade

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is reportedly facing growing political and diplomatic pressure over the question of his attendance at the upcoming Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9.

While the Prime Minister’s Office has thus far refrained from confirming whether Pashinyan will be present at the event, the uncertainty surrounding his decision appears to stem from a complex web of international and domestic concerns, Caliber.Az reports citing Armenian media.

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan, is the only senior official to publicly support the idea, stating that the Prime Minister's participation would be appropriate.

Sources suggest that the hesitation appears to stem less from internal discord within Prime Minister Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party and more from resistance voiced by Western-oriented factions—often labeled as “Soros activists.” Instead, the delay is reportedly tied to warnings from Armenia’s international partners. These foreign entities have allegedly communicated that attendance at the parade may carry significant political consequences.

The geopolitical stakes have been further raised by the recent cancellations of attendance by the prime ministers of India, Hungary, and Slovakia. According to the report, threats and pressure from EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have contributed to the current diplomatic impasse.

Despite the growing controversy, Pashinyan is said to remain inclined to travel to Moscow unless unforeseen developments prevent it. His delegation, however, will be significantly limited. Only Aleksey Sandikov—member of the ruling Civil Contract party, a Russian national—is expected to accompany him. Moscow has reportedly refused entry to several members of Pashinyan’s inner circle, particularly those associated with pro-Western advocacy groups, some of whom have been declared persona non grata.

In a further indication of strained military ties, Armenia is not expected to send a military contingent to participate in the parade—marking a notable contrast with neighboring Azerbaijan, which reportedly will be represented at the event.

By Vafa Guliyeva