A Nation Betrayed, A Future to Reclaim: Why Unity is Our Only Path Forward at the 2026 Elections

Nikol Pashinyan and his government have made a series of dangerous concessions that undermine Armenia’s sovereignty, dignity, and survival as a nation. Chief among these is the so-called “Trump Corridor,” a political scheme presented as a path to stability but in reality, a channel of subjugation. These concessions are not diplomacy they are capitulations which include the forced change to the constitution of Armenia that come at the cost of our people, our land, and our future.

The recent address by the Deputy President of the Republican Party of Armenia, Mr. Armen Ashotyan, struck a vital nerve where he uttered: “Artsakh was given up by the Armenian people.” He is unequivocally incorrect as Artsakh was surrendered by a Prime Minister and a government that never saw its intrinsic value, viewing it only as a troublesome catalyst for conflict. Pashinyan’s false premise was that by sacrificing Artsakh on the altar of geopolitics, he would secure a lasting peace. Instead, he invited the wolf into the fold.

For centuries, the mountains of Artsakh have echoed with the prayers, songs, and footsteps of the Armenian people. Today, they are silent. This deafening silence is not the sound of peace, but the chilling void left by ethnic cleansing.

The Nagorno-Karabagh issue is far from resolved. The right of return for the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh cannot and must not be compromised. Any attempt to write off Artsakh as a “closed chapter” is a betrayal not just of our history but of our identity.

Armenia’s opposition must recognise the stakes: unity is a necessity to reclaim Armenia. To divide the vote, to fight among themselves, is to enable Pashinyan’s regime to continue dismantling the Armenian nation piece by piece.

Armenian citizens, too, carry a responsibility. Our vote is not simply a ballot, it is our voice, our shield, and our only tool to bring a government to account. It is our duty to rise above apathy, above resignation, and to make our choice heard.

Armenia cannot afford another decade of surrender dressed as diplomacy. We must stand together including opposition parties, civil society, and citizens alike to reclaim the dignity of our people and secure the survival of our nation.

Pashinyan may have the pen of the government to sign agreements for now, but he does not have the will of the Armenian people.

Pashinyan’s address to the nation on August 18, 2025, was not a strategic update; it was a confession. It confirmed the abandonment of Artsakh & its people while Armenia was recognised internationally as the guarantor of Artsakh. This was the final act of a century old plan to erase Armenian presence from Nagorno-Karabakh and actively pursue a Pan Turanic agenda.

The push for the so-called “Trump Corridor” (or Zangezur Corridor) is guised as an economic opportunity however it is a geostrategic noose designed to strangle Armenia’s independence, cede control of our vital transportation links, and permanently undermine our sovereignty under the guise of regional connectivity.

This moment of profound crisis is also a moment of profound responsibility. The path to salvaging our nation’s future does not lie in further concessions to autocrats. It lies in the ballot box at the 2026 elections. It is the mechanism through which a betrayed citizenry must exercise its sovereign power to hold this government to account and take control of our national destiny & agenda. Power must return to the people through elections.

Azerbaijan's Calculated "Gift" is an Insult to the Armenian People

Recent developments suggest a deeply cynical political manoeuvre is underway in the South Caucasus on the back of the White House meeting between autocrat Aliyev, Pashinyan & President Trump. There is strong speculation that the Aliyev regime in Baku, in coordination with big brother Turkey, is preparing to orchestrate the return of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) as a calculated "gift" to bolster the electoral survival of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The return of POWS which are being held & tried illegally is very welcomed, however this action should not be misconstrued as an act of goodwill. It is a transparent and contemptuous interference in Armenia’s democratic process, designed to reward a leader whose policies have served Azerbaijani and Turkish interests at the direct expense of Armenian sovereignty and security.

Azerbaijan’s desire to see Mr. Pashinyan remain in power is the clearest possible indicator of whose interests his government truly serves.

The Armenian people must see this potential manipulation for what it is: a desperate electoral ploy funded by a foreign agenda. The release of POWs is not a favour to be traded for votes; it is a fundamental obligation under international law.

A Call for Responsible Opposition: The Path to a Credible Alternative for Armenia

At this pivotal moment, Armenia must also rethink its foreign policy. Our survival depends on balance. Blind alignment with either East or West will not secure our independence. Armenian cannot go back to days where its economy is constrained by corruption and poor business practices. It cannot also live under the illusion that aligning itself with the west provides any measure of security from Turkey and Azerbaijan. Only principled diplomacy, drawing strength from both directions, can safeguard our sovereignty. Yet one enduring truth must remain at the centre of strategy: Turkey has historically sought—and continues to seek—the annihilation of Armenia and its people. This reality cannot be ignored in pursuit of illusory peace.

As Armenia moves toward its next electoral cycle, the nation stands at a critical juncture. The upcoming elections represent a vital opportunity for the Armenian people to pass judgment on the current government's trajectory, a path marked by profound national losses, strategic concessions, and a questioned commitment to sovereignty.

However, a democratic election requires choice. For the electorate to have a meaningful say in Armenia's future, the political opposition must rise to its responsibility to its citizenry. This moment demands more than mere criticism; it demands the formation of a credible, united, and forward-looking alternative free of corruption & Armenia centric approach.

The opposition's primary duty is to serve the Armenian nation and its citizens, not to party loyalties or individual ambitions. To present the electorate with a viable option, the opposition must coalesce around leadership that embodies competence, integrity, and a clear vision for national restoration. This necessitates candidates who have not been decisively rejected by the electorate in the past. To ignore this political reality is to risk offering a choice between a problematic present and a rejected past a scenario that ultimately benefits the incumbent.

This election must be a referendum on the current government's policies: the catastrophic handling of the Artsakh conflict, the concessions on sovereignty, and a foreign policy that has left Armenia increasingly vulnerable. The opposition must ensure the election is fought on this record, not on the electorate's memories of previous administrations. If the opposition fails to be honest and transparent in its choice of leadership, it risks turning the election into a rejection of its own past figures rather than a rejection of the current government's failures.

The stakes for Armenia's statehood, security, and future prosperity could not be higher. The Armenian people deserve an opposition that is prepared to govern, capable of uniting a fractured nation, and dedicated solely to the national interest. The Armenian people call on all opposition forces to engage in sincere dialogue, prioritise the nation above all else, and present the Armenian people with a leadership team they can trust to steer the country toward a safer, more sovereign, and dignified future.

Now, the people must rise and be conscious of their responsibility of their citizenship and engage in the electoral process to take back their government. Our history, our security, and our very right to exist as a sovereign nation in our indigenous homeland depend on it.

While Armenian citizens voices rightly carry primary weight, the Armenian Diaspora’s profound connection is not a detached entity but a living legacy of a profound historical tragedy, the Genocide, which irrevocably shaped our global demographic and forged the understanding of conscious preservation of identity which grants the diaspora a legitimate stake in the nation’s future. Their external perspectives and unwavering solidarity are not an intrusion but a strategic asset, enriching the national dialogue and strengthening Armenia’s position in the world. A nation’s strength is measured by both its citizens and its global family, united in a shared destiny.

The world is watching. Armenia's democratic resilience depends on the presence of a responsible and credible alternative.

It is time for the opposition to provide one. The time for action is now. Unite, or perish.