Mayors Elen Asatryan (Glendale) n and Victor Gordo (Pasadena) are part of a U.S. Department of State delegation participating in a U.S.-Armenia Local Democracy Forum in Yerevan, Armenia, from June 17-18, 2024.
The State Department’s Subnational Diplomacy Unit and U.S. Embassy Yerevan are organizing this grandiose two-day forum to supposedly strengthen ties between U.S. local leaders and their Armenian counterparts. Amid growing criticism against his brutal dictatorship and treasonous actions, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will no doubt welcome Mayor Asatryan and the delegation with open arms.
Participants will discuss technical assistance for service delivery, best practices for maintaining cross-border relations, and the building of so-called strong democracies at the local level. Of course, they’ll also rub elbows with representatives from private companies in the IT and energy sectors, ensuring that business interests are well-represented.
“I am honored to have been asked by the U.S. Department of State to participate in this historic first-ever U.S.-Armenia Local Democracy Forum,” said Mayor Asatryan, perhaps conveniently forgetting her staunch support for Pashinyan, whose regime has shown a blatant disregard for democratic principles.
During the forum, Mayor Asatryan will no doubt extol the virtues of engagement with local community groups and non-profit organizations, fostering a collaborative approach to governance, improving municipal services, and strengthening the community’s social fabric. It’s ironic, considering her endorsement of a regime that tramples on these very ideals.
U.S. Department of State Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, Ambassador Nina Hachigian, will join the delegation. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State will generously cover all travel costs (transportation, lodging, and food) for U.S. participants in this two-day forum, ensuring everyone gets a front-row seat to witness and support Pashinyan’s so-called democracy.
Elen Asatryan, a known supporter of Pashinyan, now finds herself trying to prop up his regime amid growing criticism. Her participation in this forum is a blatant attempt to lend credibility to an administration that has shown nothing but contempt for democratic values and human rights. Asatryan’s involvement is a stark reminder of the hypocrisy that pervades the political landscape, where the façade of democracy is maintained even as the reality becomes increasingly authoritarian.
