By Andranik Aboyan
Introduction:
Nikol Pashinyan came to power on the back of promises to champion the Armenian people—especially the working class. His rhetoric of labor rights, national sovereignty, and justice seemed to offer a path forward against the perceived and real corruption of his predecessors. But years into his rule, it has become clear that these promises were little more than political tools. The reality is stark: Pashinyan’s government now serves its own interests and those of foreign corporations, while Armenian workers are left behind. As the Armenian people face rising inequality, deteriorating public services, and increasing foreign control over critical infrastructure, it is clear that the time has come for action. If this government is not removed, the future of Armenia will belong to the few, not the many.
Pashinyan’s False Promises at Zangezur: A Political Ploy
One of the most glaring examples of Pashinyan’s hollow populism can be seen in his handling of the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC). At first, Pashinyan appeared to stand with the workers, positioning himself as their ally against a management controlled by his political opponents. But as the situation unfolded, it became clear that his backing of the workers was nothing more than a tactical maneuver in a larger political battle.
After sacking the board and illegally transferring ownership to figures aligned with his government, Pashinyan’s focus on the workers disappeared. Promises of improving their conditions were abandoned once his political goals were achieved. This episode exposed a harsh truth: the government’s concern for Armenian workers was just another tool to consolidate power. But this betrayal at Zangezur was only the beginning of a larger pattern in which Pashinyan’s administration has consistently prioritized its own survival over the needs of the people.
Economic Growth: Who Truly Benefits?
Pashinyan’s betrayal of the Zangezur workers mirrors a broader trend in his government’s economic policies. Despite the government’s boasts of GDP growth, the reality for the average Armenian has been grim. The rising wealth of a small elite contrasts sharply with the struggles faced by the working class. Instead of distributing the benefits of economic growth, Pashinyan’s policies have favored the rich, while inflation and stagnant wages have eroded the livelihoods of most Armenians.
This inequality is further compounded by the government’s failure to invest in public infrastructure and services. Power outages are frequent, and basic services that should support the everyday lives of Armenians are crumbling. The divide between the rich and the rest grows wider every day, a symptom of a government that serves its wealthy allies and foreign investors while neglecting the very people it promised to uplift. This economic disparity reveals the government’s true priorities, and it becomes increasingly clear that the working class is not among them.
The Zangezur Corridor: Selling Out National Sovereignty
As Armenia’s workers struggle with economic hardship, Pashinyan’s government continues to deepen its reliance on foreign capital, even when it threatens Armenia’s sovereignty. The Zangezur Corridor—a key geopolitical route—is the latest example of this. Rather than ensuring that this vital transportation route remains under Armenian control, Pashinyan has sought to bring in a private Western company to manage its security.
This decision not only weakens Armenia’s sovereignty but also signals that the government is willing to hand over control of critical national infrastructure to foreign interests, all in the name of attracting investment. Pashinyan, who once promised to protect Armenia’s independence, now aligns himself with foreign corporations. His government is selling out the country’s resources, placing the security of the nation in the hands of private, profit-driven entities. This betrayal of national interests in favor of foreign powers is yet another sign that Pashinyan’s government does not serve the Armenian people.
Declining Public Services: A Symptom of Neglect
As the government prioritizes foreign investors, Armenian workers are left to deal with crumbling public services. Power outages have become more frequent, public infrastructure remains in disrepair, and the quality of life continues to deteriorate. Workers who once hoped for positive change after the Velvet Revolution now face a government that appears indifferent to their struggles.
Pashinyan’s administration has done little to address the day-to-day issues that affect most Armenians. The widening economic divide, combined with failing public services, paints a clear picture of a government that is focused on its own interests, not on serving its people. The Armenian people deserve better, and the current administration’s negligence in providing even basic public services is a betrayal of the very revolution that brought it to power.
A Call to Action: Escalate the Fight for Change
The pattern is unmistakable. From the Zangezur Combine to the Zangezur Corridor, from economic inequality to declining public services, Pashinyan’s government has consistently put its own interests and those of foreign powers above the needs of the Armenian people. The current administration is not just failing to govern for the people—it is actively working against them. This is not the future Armenians promised them by the Velvet Revolution.
The time has come for the Armenian people to escalate their efforts to remove this government from power. Protests, strikes, and a united front are needed to challenge a regime that has betrayed its own people. Collective action is the only way forward if we are to build a government that truly represents the Armenian people and defends the sovereignty of the nation. Waiting for change will only allow Pashinyan’s government to tighten its grip and further sell out Armenia’s resources to foreign interests.
Conclusion:
Pashinyan’s rise to power was marked by promises of justice, labor reform, and national sovereignty. But his time in office has shown that these promises were never intended to be fulfilled. The Armenian worker, the backbone of the country, has been neglected while the government has enriched itself and invited foreign corporations to control critical sectors of the economy.
The Armenian people cannot afford to remain passive in the face of such a betrayal. The time to act is now. Only by removing this government can Armenia begin to build a future where its workers and citizens—not foreign investors—are at the center of its progress.
