The My Step Foundation says it will continue its charity programs during the pre-election period despite legal concerns raised by a civic group that questions its political neutrality.
My Step Foundation Executive Director Anna Hakobyan, the ex-wife of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with whom he recently announced his reconciliation, said there are no grounds for suspending or postponing the Foundation’s programs during the pre-election period, emphasizing that its activities fully comply with Armenian legislation.
“There is no reason to postpone any programs, because no provision of Armenian law is being violated by My Step Foundation in its activities,” Hakobyan said when asked about the matter at a press briefing.
“We cannot suspend our programs, as we have obligations and signed contracts. Our cooperation with international partners is extremely important. We have agreements, timelines, and clear divisions of responsibilities. We are obliged to respect both our partners and the commitments we have undertaken.”
She added that halting programs would be impossible given the contractual framework and ongoing cooperation with partner organizations, which provide funding and participate in joint initiatives.
On April 22, the civic initiative Independent Observer filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court of Armenia, arguing that the Foundation’s charitable activities during the election period could have legal implications. The group noted that the name of My Step Foundation is widely associated with the ruling Civil Contract Party, suggesting that its activities during the election period should be subject to administrative review.
The My Step Foundation has rejected these allegations, insisting that neither the Foundation nor its programs have any institutional connection to the ruling political force.
Hakobyan also announced that the Foundation’s legal team would examine the possibility of filing counterclaims against the Independent Observer and its representative, Daniel Ioannisyan, in response to the accusations.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2026/04/28/my-step-foundation-rejects-claims-of-pre-election-period-violations-highlight/