Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has named Arpine Sargsyan as Armenia’s new Minister of Interior and Davit Khudatyan as the new Minister of Public Infrastructure. These appointments, announced on Wednesday, come as part of a larger reshuffle that saw six senior state officials resign earlier in the week under pressure from Pashinyan.
Sargsyan, 30, previously served as deputy interior minister and deputy justice minister between 2022 and 2023. She was actively involved in the government’s police reform initiatives, which she has characterized as successful despite a notable increase in crime during Pashinyan’s tenure. She defended police actions during last year’s crackdown on anti-government protests, including the controversial use of stun grenades that injured nearly 100 demonstrators, as well as incidents of police violence against opposition figures.
As Interior Minister, Sargsyan will oversee the police, migration, and rescue services, taking on a key role in a ministry with significant influence over public order and security.
Khudatyan, who previously served as the governor of the Armavir province, will now head the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
The reshuffle remains incomplete, with four other high-level posts—overseeing law enforcement agencies, the national tax and customs service, and the judiciary—still vacant. Observers view these moves as an attempt by Pashinyan to rejuvenate his administration and bolster his sagging approval ratings ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for June 2026. Speculation is growing that the elections may be brought forward to early 2025 as part of this political recalibration.
This restructuring comes amid increasing scrutiny of Pashinyan’s leadership and mounting discontent over governance issues, law enforcement practices, and economic challenges facing Armenia.
