
Pashinyan Calls for Recognition of Armenia’s Borders, Legal Reforms, and Anti-Corruption Measures

On March 20, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the importance of recognizing Armenia's internationally recognized territory and borders, as well as the need for stronger anti-corruption measures and effective governance.
During the second discussion of the "Real Armenia" ideology project, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that Armenia’s territory is 29,743 square kilometers, a figure many citizens were unfamiliar with despite its international recognition. He questioned why this number was not widely known and stressed that Armenia’s citizens must first acknowledge their country’s territorial integrity before expecting others to do so. He also proposed that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev begin consultations on signing a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, noting that the draft agreement had already been prepared and was awaiting signing.
Pashinyan reflected on historical perceptions of Armenia’s statehood, noting that for centuries, the state was perceived as something foreign, while Armenia itself was regarded as the homeland. He explained that since gaining independence, Armenians have often viewed their state with a certain detachment, as if it were separate from their homeland. He emphasized the need for citizens and the government to identify with the state, stating, "In the Republic of Armenia, the citizen must say: ‘I am the state,’ and the government must say to the citizen: ‘You are the state.’"
Pashinyan stressed the necessity for criminal cases brought to court to result in clear and justified outcomes, including indictments. He criticized the expectation that every case reaching the court must result in a guilty verdict, arguing that cases should be properly explained even when they do not lead to convictions. He called for transparency and clear indicators of the work done by the Anti-Corruption Committee and the Investigative Committee, urging them to report on the volume of cases sent to court and the number of cases ending with enforceable verdicts.
Pashinyan also expressed dissatisfaction with high-profile cases that had been launched with significant media attention but had not progressed. He pointed out that some criminal investigations had been ongoing since 2018 without resolution, which he described as unacceptable. He called for stricter anti-corruption oversight of government activities, emphasizing that investigations should not be allowed to stagnate. "How long can we initiate a criminal case and keep it in a long drawer?" he asked, urging authorities to bring such cases to court and deliver guilty verdicts when necessary.
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