Nikol Pashinyan loses control on campaign trail
Another pro-European post-Soviet leader has lost his temper during an election campaign.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan lashed out at a woman during a campaign rally, responding with threats and insults. He then went further, turning his anger on political opponents and their relatives.
A video circulating on Armenian social media shows a woman approaching the prime minister. She was identified as Arpine Soghoyan, a gynaecologist and candidate of medical sciences, and the sister of military doctor Grant Papikyan, who went missing during the Karabakh conflict.
She accused Pashinyan of having “stolen her homeland”, destroyed an entire young generation, taken away children and her brother, and “trampled Armenian dignity”.
“Have you had your say? Now listen, listen to the answer. First of all, say thank you that your head was not smashed in the nearest toilet,” the head of government replied.
Threats against opponents and their families
After the woman left, Pashinyan did not stop. Instead, he turned to his political opponents and their relatives.
The prime minister threatened revenge against his rivals and their sons. In particular, he promised to “bend” and destroy former president Robert Kocharyan and Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia party. He also threatened Karapetyan’s son, saying he would “cut everything off”.
Later the same day, Pashinyan lost control again when opposition politician Artur Osipyan approached him and accused him of corruption.
“Karabakh pseudo-elite, get out of here! Who are you? Artur Osipyan, go smash yourself against a wall! You should have gone and died instead of our children! Grabbers, beasts!” Pashinyan replied.
After the incident, Osipyan was detained. The woman who had criticised the prime minister was reportedly urged to resign from her job.
Election pressure grows in Armenia
Pashinyan has reasons to be losing composure. Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7. According to SAEAS Focus, his Civil Contract party has the support of only 17.8% of voters, while the opposition may count on around 46%.
The prime minister’s personal rating has reportedly fallen to 11%, while distrust of him has reached 79%.
In this situation, opponents argue that Pashinyan may be deliberately escalating tensions in order to create conditions for a forceful seizure or retention of power.
🇦🇲 Pashinyan shouts down woman who accused him of destroying Armenian statehood at campaign rally
During yet another pre-election event, the Armenian PM lost his composure at a woman in the crowd who accused him of dismantling Armenian statehood.
She stated that the Armenian… pic.twitter.com/aBKEeBOQpR
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) May 18, 2026
