Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday accused second President Robert Kocharyan of orchestrating the deadly post-election crackdown on protesters during the final days of his presidency in 2008.

Speaking at a press briefing amid a campaign event for his Civil Contract party, Pashinyan said that all the facts regarding the events of March 1, 2008, are available and that those responsible must be held accountable.

A criminal investigation into the deadly post-election unrest in Yerevan in 2008 is still ongoing. Ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan had rallied supporters in Yerevan against what he described as rigged elections that declared Serzh Sargsyan president-elect. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed during mass disturbances and clashes between demonstrators and security forces on March 1, 2008, during the final days of Robert Kocharyan’s presidency.

“We now have a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights clearly stating that what happened on March 1, 2008, was organized by the state, and this must receive a response,” the Prime Minister said, referring to the 2025 ruling by the European court, which found that the authorities violated the victims’ “right to life” guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The ECHR ruled on a lawsuit filed in 2011 by the families of eight protesters, as well as Interior Troops conscript Tigran Abgaryan, who was killed during the unrest. 

According to Pashinyan, there are public expectations that those responsible in the case should be held accountable.

“People are demanding answers from me, and there is a misconception among the public that, as part of backstage agreements, I am granting indulgences to Robert Kocharyan and Gagik Tsarukyan. I am saying that justice must prevail,” Pashinyan noted.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in cases where he has personal involvement, he tries to act with extra caution. In 2008, Pashinyan campaigned in support of Ter-Petrosyan, was arrested a year later, and was subsequently convicted in connection with the unrest. In 2022, a court absolved Pashinyan of all responsibility related to the deadly unrest.

“In situations where I personally have any connection whatsoever, I try two, three, and four times harder not to be active,” he said.

“Nevertheless, the political responsibility remains on me, and now there is a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, and that ruling must be addressed,” he added.

According to Pashinyan, the March 1 case has been solved.

“Those responsible must be punished. March 1 has been solved because all the materials and all the facts are in the criminal case file, and it is clear that March 1 was an event organized by Robert Kocharyan. And he must answer for it, unequivocally,” the Prime Minister stated.

Robert Kocharyan has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he is not concerned that Russia’s new law allowing the use of its military abroad to “protect” arrested Russian citizens could be applied in Armenia.

He stressed that the Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri operates under Armenian law and jurisdiction, regardless of Russian domestic legislation.

Pashinyan was asked at a press briefing whether he was concerned about the law passed by the Russian State Duma, which grants the Russian president the authority to use the Russian military abroad to protect Russian citizens if they are arrested or prosecuted by foreign courts whose jurisdiction Moscow does not recognize.

“There is no concern, because regardless of what laws operate in Russia, the 102nd military base must operate within the framework of Armenian law and under Armenia’s jurisdiction,” Pashinyan said.

The Russian law is aimed at “unfriendly countries” and supplements existing provisions that allow the Russian president to deploy troops in cases where Russia’s interests are threatened.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that vote-buying can no longer determine election results in Armenia.

Speaking at a press briefing amid a campaign event for his Civil Contract party, Pashinyan was asked to comment on recent reports by law enforcement agencies of alleged vote-buying by certain political forces competing in the parliamentary elections.

“These developments are concerning, and we must seriously fight against vote-buying. Let me express my conviction that in Armenia it is no longer possible to determine outcomes through electoral bribery; at most, a few votes can be swayed,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan noted that law enforcement agencies, especially the Anti-Corruption Committee, are effectively combating electoral bribery.

Most of the recent alleged vote-buying cases reported by the Anti-Corruption Committee concern the “Strong Armenia” party.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that he had filed a defamation lawsuit against the Strong Armenia party leader Samvel Karapetyan.

Karapetyan last week alleged that Pashinyan had brought “one ton of hallucinogenic mushrooms” from China, which he allegedly uses before every speech, and said the prime minister’s statements should not be taken seriously.

Pashinyan rejected the allegations in a video posted on Facebook.

“Is that a statement from a serious person? Think before you speak, or better yet, think before doing anything at all,” Pashinyan said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said there will be no escalation in relations between Armenia and Russia, rejecting opposition claims about rising tensions.

He accused opposition figures, including ex-president and Armenia Alliance leader Robert Kocharyan, Strong Armenia party leader Samvel Karapetyan, and Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan — all running in the June 7 parliamentary elections — of trying to provoke such tensions.

Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan ruled out the possibility of any escalation between Armenia and Russia.

Pashinyan, referring to the three opposition figures, said: “They are doing everything so that there will be escalation between Armenia and Russia.”

“There will be none, first because quarreling with Russia is not on our scale; we are a small, modest country. On the other hand, we are a full member of the EAEU. Kocharyan also said that he expects Russia to create problems. These are cheap provocations; they will not succeed,” Pashinyan said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that he has no information about reports suggesting that Türkiye may open the land border with Armenia in the coming days, but emphasized that he would welcome such a development if it occurs.

Pashinyan was asked at a press briefing to comment on Turkish media reports suggesting that the land border could be opened in the coming days.

“I don’t have any direct information, but if it turns out that such a thing is happening, I would be very happy. I also noticed that some opposition circles are spreading an atmosphere of fear regarding the opening of borders. From what they are saying, it sounds as if Türkiye and Azerbaijan have done us a favor by keeping the border closed. Meanwhile, for 30 years Armenia has been protesting in international forums that Türkiye and Azerbaijan have blockaded it.

Honestly, I do not have any information about the border opening. We want it to happen, and it would be very good if it happens in a logical way. When it happens, I will welcome it,” the Prime Minister said, emphasizing that it would only have a positive impact on Armenia.

Türkiye unilaterally closed its land border with Armenia in 1993.

The Pashinyan administration launched intensified normalization efforts with Türkiye in 2022. Several rounds of talks have resulted in agreements, most recently an announcement on trade facilitation involving procedural changes. The sides are also exploring the relaunch of the railway. Another agreement concerned the partial opening of the land border for diplomatic passport holders and third-country nationals as a first phase. This agreement has yet to be implemented.

On May 4, on the margins of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia and Türkiye signed a memorandum of understanding on the restoration of the historic Ani Bridge.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated on Thursday that daily work is underway with the United States toward the implementation of the TRIPP project.

Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan said the two countries are now working on finalizing an interstate agreement regarding the project.

He was asked to comment on the recently announced visit of a U.S. firm for a site survey.

“Parallel processes are taking place regarding the project: both the survey of sites is underway, and it is not excluded that, for example, we may begin the major renovation of certain infrastructure, such as railway stations and others,” said Pashinyan.

Speaking about the finalization of the interstate agreement, Pashinyan said: “We want to sign it as soon as possible and give it de jure force. In practice, daily work is underway on TRIPP.”

He also added that a site survey is currently being conducted, along with a survey of investment interests, a study of management models, and an analysis of a legally binding agreement.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity.

U.S. firm AECOM representatives met with Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan during a visit to Armenia for a TRIPP site survey.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the issue of building a new nuclear power plant in Armenia is not a political matter but an economic one.

Pashinyan told reporters that the government is working with various international partners in this regard and will ultimately adopt the proposal that best serves Armenia’s interests.

He was asked to comment at a press briefing on the recently reported Russian offer.

According to a Russian Foreign Ministry official, Russia has proposed to Armenia a high-capacity nuclear power plant project that could meet the country’s energy needs for decades, if not a century.

The Armenian Prime Minister confirmed that an offer had been received from Russia but highlighted that other countries have also made similar offers.

“We have received such a proposal from Russia, but we have also received similar proposals from South Korea, France, and the United States. Our assessment is that, taking into account the pace of solar energy development, we will not need a 1,000 MW nuclear power plant because we have our own resource—solar energy. We are now focused on and want to have a modular nuclear power plant, as it would allow us to build additional power units in the future if necessary. And most importantly, a modular plant cannot lead to accidents like the one that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant; this is the most important issue for us. In the case of an accident at a modular plant, it is considered a local incident, and nearby settlements are not evacuated,” Pashinyan said.

According to the Prime Minister, Armenia is working on this issue with Russia, as well as with South Korea, the United States, France, and China.

Pashinyan added that Russia also has a modular nuclear plant project, but it is a floating nuclear power plant.

“We must study all proposals in terms of both technology and cost. In the matter of building a new nuclear power plant, we do not want to make a political choice because this is an economic project. We want to ensure the long-term viability and profitability of this program for Armenia. This is not a political choice, but a purely economic issue,” Pashinyan noted, emphasizing that Armenia will work with those partners from whom it receives the best offer.

At present, a project is underway in Armenia to extend the operational life of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant by 10 years, until 2036, when the government plans to replace it with a modular nuclear power plant. Talks on the construction of the new plant are ongoing with the United States, France, Russia, China, and South Korea.

Prosperous Armenia party leader and business magnate Gagik Tsarukyan has called for a shift toward elected regional governance, arguing that governors should be chosen by the public rather than appointed.

Speaking at a campaign event in Noyemberyan, Tavush, ahead of the upcoming June 7 parliamentary elections, Tsarukyan also emphasized the need to restore Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

“The governor should be elected. The people should see that this person is an organizer, is concerned, understands things, and is someone who [goes the extra mile],” Tsarukyan said.

Speaking about the restoration of the Ministry of Agriculture, he said the move would ensure that farmers have a place to turn to for solving their problems, and that the ministry would also plan in advance and provide appropriate support within the framework of seasonal work.

Tsarukyan is Prosperous Armenia’s candidate for prime minister in the parliamentary elections.

The current Ministry of Economy of Armenia also carries out the functions of the former Ministry of Agriculture following their merger in 2019.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 14 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.15 drams to 368.78 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 431.73 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0075 drams to 5.0201 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.35 drams to 498.26 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 9 drams to 55438 drams. Silver price up by 36.62 drams to 1027.9 drams.