Armenia opens investigation into death threats against Pashinyan’s wife Anna H

Criminal proceedings have been launched after unidentified individuals leveled death threats against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s wife, Anna Hakobyan. Kima Avdalyan, a spokesperson for the Investigative Committee, said on Thursday two separate charges had been filed in connection to the case, one for digital ‘hooliganism’ and another concerning ‘public calls for violence’.

Long a fixture in Armenian society and an outspoken presence in the public sphere, Hakobyan had made domestic violence the focus of several of her recent social media posts. She said later that she had begun receiving death threats after speaking about the issue.

‘I hope the state authorities will be able to prevent something like this from happening, because it would seriously damage the country’s reputation if the Prime Minister’s wife became a victim of violence’, Hakobyan said.

She continued to urge other women not to be afraid to speak about domestic violence.

Hakobyan, who also serves as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Armenian Times, has occasionally waded into controversy during her tenure in the public eye.

Earlier in 2026, she announced she was separating from Pashinyan after more than 30 years together, only for the two to reconcile months later.

When she announced the separation in February, Hakobyan acknowledged that she could face criminal prosecution over her work at My Step, amidst questions about whether the foundation’s provision of free English classes during the pre-election period had violated Armenia’s campaign laws.

At the time of her announcement, some analysts suggested the split may have been a political manoeuvre ahead of elections, and that a reconciliation was possible.

Hakobyan has also been criticised at times for questionable spending and use of government resources, as well as harsh language directed at clergy members amid the ongoing spat between Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church.