Pashinyan (Nikol)

Nikol Pashinyan (born 1975) is an Armenian politician who became Prime Minister in 2018 following the non-violent Velvet Revolution he led. Initially popular for his anti-corruption stance, Pashinyan's tenure has been marked by complex challenges. His efforts to balance relations between Russia, Armenia's traditional ally, and the West have been contentious. The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war resulted in territorial losses to Azerbaijan, leading to widespread protests against Pashinyan's leadership. Critics accuse him of mishandling the conflict and compromising national interests. Despite facing calls for resignation and navigating a delicate geopolitical landscape, Pashinyan has maintained power through elections. In 2024, Pashinyan announced that Armenia will leave a Russia-led military alliance, CSTO, citing its failure to protect Armenia from Azerbaijan. [ClaudeAI, edited]