By Wally Sarkeesian

What Armenian to do After Removing Pashinyan

Once the preserve of wealthy states, air power has been upended by low-cost, prop-driven drones built from commercial parts. Iran’s simple, mass-produced loitering munitions — especially the Shahid-136 — proved that cheap, saturating strikes can inflict strategic damage, forcing expensive, painful shifts in air-defense thinking.

A $20k–$50k kamikaze drone can compel defenders to expend interceptors costing orders of magnitude more, fundamentally changing the economics of conflict. Iranian advances came from sanctions-driven necessity — reverse engineering captured systems and scaling inexpensive designs. Platforms like the Mohajir-6 (mid-range strike), Shahid-129 (long-endurance strike), and Shahid-136 (expendable loitering munition) exemplify the swarm and saturation logic: individually slow and vulnerable drones become lethal in numbers, overwhelming layered defenses. Real-world use across the Middle East, Yemen, Syria, and Russia’s campaigns in Ukraine highlight their strategic utility against infrastructure.

For Armenia, this technological lesson intersects with political history. Many analysts argue that had Armenia not undergone the 2018 “Velvet Revolution” — which brought to power a government viewed by some as aligned with Western and Turkish interests — the fate of Artsakh might have been different. Without that shift, Armenia could have maintained a more traditional security posture and stronger deterrence, possibly preventing Azerbaijan’s 2020 advance. In this view, political disruption weakened national defense at a time when drone warfare was transforming the battlefield, allowing Azerbaijan, heavily supported by Turkish UAVs and advisors, to gain decisive air superiority.

Now, as the Pashinyan government moves toward a 15.2% defense budget cut in 2026, critics warn the cycle may repeat. The opposition insists Armenia must rebuild a deterrent force — especially in drones and electronic warfare — to avoid future losses. Cheap drones have democratized air power globally, and Armenia’s challenge is to adapt politically and technologically before history repeats itself.

By Wally Sarkeesian

The way Armenia’s electoral system is set up (thanks to the geniuses in the previous government) is that to enter parliament, political parties must pass a 4% threshold (previously 5%), while multi-party alliances must pass 7–8% (previously 8%).

This system, while presented as a way to ensure stability, in practice favors larger parties—particularly Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party—and makes it extremely difficult for smaller or “one-man” parties to gain representation. In the last election, nearly all of those smaller groups failed to reach the threshold, and their votes were effectively redistributed to the ruling party.

So, there are two fundamental things every voter should consider:

1. Will the party or alliance I’m voting for realistically pass the threshold?
   If the answer is no, your vote will likely be wasted and will indirectly support the ruling party, since all sub-threshold votes get redistributed.
2. Is the party or alliance I’m voting for genuinely in opposition to Pashinyan’s policies?
   Many of the smaller “opposition” figures—such as Aram Sargsyan, Arman Babajanyan, and Tigran Khzmalyan—are, in reality, aligned with the government’s positions in most cases: anti-Russian, heavily backed by Western money, pro-Turkish, and supportive of the same policies that have led the country to its current state.
   If the answer is yes, again, this effectively becomes another vote for Pashinyan’s continuation.

As for Arman Tatoyan, there’s still uncertainty about his stance on several issues, and more clarity is needed. At this stage, aside from Robert Kocharyan and Samvel Karapetyan, it’s unlikely that most of the smaller opposition figures will pass the 4% threshold on their own.

To have any real chance, these forces—the Republican Party (Serzh Sargsyan), Gagik Tsarukyan, Arman Tatoyan, ANC (Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Levon Zurabyan), Artur Vanetsyan, and others—must unite. Otherwise, their divided votes will once again go to waste and end up strengthening Pashinyan’s hold on power.

By Wally Sarkeesian

Armenia’s Future Is on the Line: “Do not Debate Pashinyan”

The coming election is not politics as usual — it is a fight for the very survival of the Armenian nation.

For years, since 2008, Nikol Pashinyan has deceived our people, divided our society, and led Armenia into loss and despair. Enough is enough.

Do not waste time debating him or his circle. They thrive on distraction, lies, and manipulation.

Instead, focus on unity, strength, and purpose. Build, organize, and stand together for Armenia’s future. Ignore the noise — let them speak to themselves while patriots act.

Armenia will rise again — but only if we stand together and act now.

The upcoming election in Armenia is not just another vote — it is a matter of life or death for the Armenian nation.

The opposition must completely ignore Pashinyan and his circle. There is no point in debating them — Pashinyan has already proven, since 2008, to be a master of deception and lies. His leadership has brought only loss, division, and destruction to the nation.

Do not engage with them. Do not waste energy debating them. Focus on rebuilding, organizing, and acting. Let them speak to themselves while the true patriots work to save Armenia.

By Wally Sarkeesian

Dictators invade. They take what belongs to others. Erdogan invaded Cyprus — half of it remains under Turkish occupation. Turkey also invaded northern Syria and northern Iraq. Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Netanyahu continues the occupation of Palestine. That is what dictators do: they grab land.

But traitors are the opposite. A traitor doesn’t seize land — they give it away. Pashinyan handed over Artsakh, half of Armenia’s historic territory, to Turkish Azerbaijan. He surrendered hundreds of villages, lakes, and lands. And now he is partitioning Armenia itself to create a corridor for Turkey and Azerbaijan to cross.

That is the mark of a traitor. And that is the difference between dictators and traitors.

By Wally Sarkeesian

U.S. State Department Confirms President Trump’s Support for Returning Artsakh Refugees, Releasing Armenian Hostages & Protecting Christian Holy Sites

In a major development following months of grassroots Armenian-American advocacy and bipartisan Congressional engagement, the Trump-Vance Administration has, in an unprecedented move, formally announced its commitment on the following issues regarding Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh): – Supporting the return of Artsakh’s displaced ethnic Armenian population to their indigenous homeland – Supporting the release of Armenian hostages illegally held in Azerbaijan –

Supporting the protection of Armenian Christian heritage sites in Artsakh This announcement was made in a September 25, 2025 letter from the U.S. State Department, signed by Paul D. Guaglianone of the Department’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs. The letter outlines a newly articulated U.S. policy that directly addresses core priorities long advanced by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Congressional Armenian Caucus. The policy shift comes in response to a powerful bipartisan July 23 letter regarding the return of ethnic Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh and the release of Armenian prisoners, which was spearheaded by 87 Members of Congress, addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and led by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA).

The Congressional letter urged the administration to support the return of Artsakh’s forcibly displaced Armenians, press for the release of Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan, and ensure the protection of Christian heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh. Details from the Letter In the September 25 letter to Congress, the U.S. State Department outlined a series of key U.S. commitments regarding Artsakh. The letter emphasized that the Administration is: – “Encouraging both Armenia and Azerbaijan to provide for the return of displaced ethnic Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of a sustainable peace” – “Closely monitoring the trials of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan, with U.S. Embassy officials in Baku attending legal proceedings whenever possible” – “Calling on the Azerbaijani government to protect Armenian heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh” The letter contextualized these commitments as part of a broader diplomatic breakthrough—the August 8 summit hosted by President Trump, where Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reconfirmed their intent to “sign and ratify a peace agreement” that had been agreed to in principle in March 2025. As part of that summit, both sides also committed to establish the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity”—a corridor that, as the letter notes, “respects Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” while providing Azerbaijan access to its exclave of Nakhichevan.

The State Department described this summit as a “momentous breakthrough” and “an unprecedented opportunity” to secure lasting peace and reconciliation in the region. The letter concluded by underscoring the Department’s commitment to “implementing this historic initiative.” ANCA’s Response: Advocacy in Action In a statement titled “ANCA Welcomes Trump’s Commitment to Returning Artsakh Refugees, Releasing Armenian Hostages, Protecting Christian Holy Sites,” the organization framed the letter as a breakthrough moment in U.S. policy. Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA, welcomed the administration’s response: “We welcome the commitments undertaken by the Trump-Vance Administration in its response to a bipartisan letter signed by 87 members of the Armenian Caucus, and are already working with our Congressional allies, coalition partners, and community activists to translate these commitments into concrete action.

Our hard-fought progress on each of these fronts – Artsakh refugees, Armenian hostages, and Christian churches – is a tribute to our collective resilience, our enduring resolve in the face of Yerevan’s indifference and Azerbaijan’s intense opposition.” Over the past several months: – Armenian American advocates sent more than 100,000 emails and calls through ANCA’s national, regional, and local platforms urging legislators to co-sign the Armenian Caucus letter – ANCA’s summer interns, Leo Sarkisian and Maral Melkonian Avetisyan, visited over 400 Congressional offices weekly, distributing fact sheets and making the case for a U.S.-backed right of return for Artsakh genocide survivors – These efforts were amplified during ANCA’s September 2025 fly-in Advocacy Days, which brought together activists from across the country The Armenian Caucus Letter: Backing Human Rights & Justice The Trump-Vance Administration’s new stance came in direct response to the bipartisan July 23 letter initiated by the Congressional Armenian Caucus, co-chaired by Frank Pallone, Gus Bilirakis, Brad Sherman, and David Valadao. The letter urged the administration to: – Ensure the collective, protected, and dignified return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their indigenous homeland of Artsakh – Take action consistent with international law and in pursuit of a just and lasting peace – Respond to Azerbaijan’s 2023 blockade and military assault, which displaced 120,000 Christian Armenians – Confront the systematic destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage sites, the ransacking of civilian property, and destruction of public infrastructure –

Uphold the December 2023 International Court of Justice ruling, which compels Azerbaijan to allow the safe and secure return of Artsakh’s Armenian population The letter stated: “The right of populations displaced by war to return to their homes is a fundamental principle of international law.” Spotlight on the Swiss Peace Initiative The Congressional letter also urged the U.S. to support the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno-Karabakh—a diplomatic measure adopted by the Swiss Parliament aimed at establishing an international negotiation platform to mediate a safe, secure, and internationally guaranteed return for Armenians. This initiative was a central topic at a standing-room-only Congressional briefing on July 10, attended by over 200 Capitol Hill staffers, policy experts, and human rights advocates.

The event featured Swiss Parliamentarians Erich Vontobel and Lukas Reimann, Dr. John Eibner, President of Christian Solidarity International, Vartan Oskanian, Former Armenian Foreign Minister, Mark Milosch, Republican Staff Director for Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and was moderated by ANCA Policy Director Alex Galitsky. Full List of Congressional Signatories The bipartisan letter was co-signed by 87 Members of Congress, spanning both parties and representing dozens of states. Joining Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA) in cosigning the letter were Representatives: Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Ami Bera (D-CA), Don Beyer (D-VA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Andre Carson (D-IN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Joaquín Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Charles Fleischmann (R-TN), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Vince Fong (R-CA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), John Larson (D-CT), George Latimer (D-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Susie Lee (D-NV), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY), Dave Min (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), David Taylor (R-OH), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), George Whitesides (D-CA), and Nikema Williams (D-GA). What Comes Next? While the September 25 letter represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Artsakh, advocacy organizations and Congressional leaders stress that implementation is key.

ANCA is now mobilizing its national network, engaging policymakers, and working with civil society and diaspora leaders to: – Ensure the administration follows through – Protect Armenian rights on the ground – Hold Azerbaijan accountable for its treatment of Armenian civilians, detainees, and cultural heritage As ANCA made clear: This is a breakthrough—but the real work starts now.

By Wally Sarkeesian

“While public debate is generally a vital component of a healthy democratic process, the timing of Prime Minister Pashinyan’s invitation to former leaders for a debate on past decisions is perplexing for many observers. The nation faced numerous pivotal moments,

particularly concerning Artsakh and significant territorial reconfigurations, where a broad national dialogue, public referendum, or even extensive parliamentary debate seemed absent. Decisions leading to the current state, including the signing of the November 2020 statement and subsequent agreements, were made under circumstances that left many feeling that comprehensive discussion and public consensus were bypassed.

Furthermore, there are significant public concerns regarding the alignment of these outcomes with previous electoral promises and stated national objectives. Therefore, engaging in a debate now, after these irreversible steps have been taken and the landscape of Armenia and Artsakh has fundamentally shifted, raises questions about its true intent and effectiveness. For many, such a post-factum debate may not adequately address the profound concerns regarding the process by which these critical decisions were initially made, or the perceived need for clear accountability for their outcomes and the divergence from earlier assurances.”