Diaspora military movement to save Armenia from Pashinyan’s destructive steps

On April 11-12, 2026, a conference dedicated to the national Diaspora movement was held in Paris, bringing together 160 politicians, community leaders, international lawyers, clergy and intellectuals from 26 countries, including Armenia and Artsakh.

The purpose of the conference was a comprehensive assessment of the relations between Armenia and the Diaspora in the conditions of ongoing national challenges and changing geopolitical realities, while emphasizing the need for a coordinated military movement around a unified pan-Armenian agenda.

This is a crucial moment in the history of our country. With each passing day, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan causes significant damage to Armenia’s national interests to such an extent that if he continues in office after the June 7 parliamentary elections, the existence of the motherland may be in great danger. Armenia needs a capable leader who will protect the country’s national interests from foreign interference from all sides, from the East, West, North or South.

Armenians, who at this crucial moment ignore the unpleasant situation of their homeland and sit idly by, contribute to its downfall. Regardless of the place of residence, every Armenian has a sacred duty to protect Armenia from its enemies, both inside the country and outside its borders.

Unfortunately, about half of the registered voters of Armenia said that they will not participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Such indifference enables the continuation of policies that the majority opposes. Every registered Armenian voter has a civic duty to participate in the elections and vote on June 7. Even Armenian citizens living in the Diaspora must come to Armenia to participate in the voting.

In terms of campaign strategy, opposition political forces should focus their efforts on those voters who plan not to participate in the elections, rather than wasting time and resources on convincing Pashinyan’s dwindling supporters. His followers will continue to support him because they depend on him for their livelihood, they are either civil servants receiving large bonuses or enjoying monopoly business privileges.

In the conditions of the urgency of the political situation, the Paris conference gained special importance. Most of the participants, who were not affiliated with any party, jointly recorded the dangers facing Armenia and pledged to take the necessary steps upon returning home to mobilize members of their communities. It is noteworthy that three former prime ministers of Armenia, Vazgen Manukyan, Khosrov Harutyunyan and Hrant Bagratyan, participated in the conference.

Bishop Grigor Khachatryan, leader of the diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of France, read the message of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia addressed the participants in a video message. Ashot Danielyan, Acting President of the Republic of Artsakh and Chairman of the National Assembly of Artsakh, personally addressed the conference.

At the conference, 19 speakers took part in four panel discussions.

1. The strategic role of the diaspora in solving national problems. What is the political agenda of the Diaspora?

2. The importance of national values ​​and the Armenian Church in the Diaspora for the preservation of Armenian identity. the challenges of the new situation.

3. Issues and horizons of Armenia-Diaspora relations.

4. Mobilization and revitalization of the Diaspora for national goals.

As one of the speakers at the conference, in my speech I expressed regret that the successive governments of Armenia have not fully utilized the Diaspora as a precious resource. After the closure of the Diaspora Ministry by Pashinyan’s administration, Diaspora-Armenia relations have reached their lowest level since Armenia’s independence. Pashinyan often belittles and opposes the Diaspora, thereby distancing his government from the concerns of the Diaspora.

Pashinyan’s views and positions deviate significantly from Armenian values ​​and priorities. He openly criticized the national symbols: Mount Ararat, the state coat of arms and the national anthem. By renaming the textbooks of “Armenian History” to “History of Armenia”, he reduced the historical scope of Armenian identity. Pashinyan has questioned the authenticity of the Armenian Genocide, and he wears the map of “Real Armenia” on his chest, trying to forget historical Armenia.

In matters of security and sovereignty, Pashinyan handed over Artsakh to Azerbaijan, renounced 220 square kilometers of the territory of the Republic of Armenia in favor of Azerbaijan, considers the Artsakh issue closed, while the leaders of Artsakh remain in prison in Baku, and made a black list of Diaspora Armenians who were deprived of the right to visit Armenia simply because they disagreed with his policies.

In addition, he has taken confrontational steps against the Armenian Apostolic Church, including arresting high-ranking clergy. His “Civil Contract” party has announced plans to organize an official conference exclusively for “state-centric organizations of the Diaspora”.

Concluding my speech, I proposed a mechanism that would be able to unite millions of Diaspora Armenians in one unified structure, forming a Parliament of Diaspora Armenians, which will be elected by members of different communities of the Diaspora.

At the end of the conference, to my surprise, Ashot Danielyan, the Acting President of the Republic of Artsakh, handed me a letter of thanks from the Republic of Artsakh, which stated: “I express my deep gratitude to you for the great contribution you have made in protecting the rights of forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians and ensuring their safe and dignified return to their historical homeland.”

The recognition was an honor, but more important is the responsibility shared by Armenians around the world to act decisively at this pivotal moment.

Harut Sassounyan

www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Translation: Ruzanna Avagyan

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