KeghartKeghart.org Editorial, 6 June 2026
Tomorrow, Armenians will once again head to the polls in a polarized contest. On one side stands Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party, buoyed by Western support and promoting a “Real Armenia” vision—”pragmatic” survival within current borders, even at the cost of alienating from traditional symbols and national values. On the other side, a fragmented opposition of oligarchs and a former president are huddled, leaning on Moscow’s patronage. Russia, predictably, is attempting to influence the vote.
Both camps deploy fear narratives: Pashinyan warns of war if he is not re‑elected; the opposition warns of Russian punishment if he is. This binary choice—Europe or Russia—heightens voter anxiety but narrows Armenia’s imagination.
Yet there is another reality Armenians must confront: Iran.
No matter who governs in Yerevan, it is impossible to ignore the heroic people of Iran, our southern neighbor. Their struggle for independence and human dignity has unfolded under sanctions, isolation, and external pressure, yet they remain resilient. Armenia must recognize this and engage Tehran not only for economic reasons but as a counterbalance to Turkbaijan. Iran offers proximity, energy, and transit opportunities. A strategic pact is already on the horizon in 2026.
Of course, Washington did not build one of its largest embassies in Yerevan to watch Armenia pivot toward Iran. The U.S., UK and Israel will try to frustrate such relations. But Armenia cannot afford to be blind to geography, history and culture. Iran is not a replacement for the West, but it is a partner of necessity. If sanctions are eased—as partial waivers already suggest—Armenia could benefit from a fuller partnership with West Asia’s powerhouse.
Meanwhile, the patriotic parties remain divided. Despite years of appeals for unity, they failed to come together, leaving the klepto‑oligarchs to occupy opposition seats once more. Is this ego, or external manipulation? Either way, it is a betrayal of the people’s hopes.
Note: A klepto‑oligarch is essentially an oligarch whose wealth and political influence are rooted in corruption, cronyism, and the systematic looting of public resources. The term combines kleptocracy (rule by thieves) with oligarchy (rule by a small elite).
The sentiment in Yerevan leans toward Europe, and that path should not be dismissed. But competence must replace loyalty in governance. If Pashinyan is re‑elected, he must shed his insecurity and engage administrators who may disagree with him. Only then can Armenia avoid repeating the awkward missteps of recent years.
Armenia stands at a crossroads.
Europe offers legitimacy, Russia offers coercion, and Iran offers proximity and resilience. The choice is not binary—it is multi‑vector. But recognition of Iran’s struggle, and friendship with Tehran, must be part of Armenia’s future. To ignore Iran is to ignore reality.
*****
Keghart
12 comments
Overall an excellent article. Nevertheless, I take umbrage with this sentence: “The choice is not binary—it is multi‑vector. ” I believe that perhaps you meant that the influencing factors are multi-vector. The choice, on the other hand, is binary: freedom or slavery… slaves of foreign powers, klepto-oligarchs, evil…..
We are standing at the edge of the dark abyss, looking down, inch by inch, slipping treacherously closer to the point of no return and into the dark oblivion of nothingness…..
In your Armenia’s Election story, you somehow forgot to mention the “West”’s and European Union’s Betrayal and their total lack of any viable action during Artsakh events.
I believe that an editorial that does not discuss Pashinyan’s mental illness, crazy statements, and repression of his opponents misses the mark.
Does the editorial writer think that Pashinyan is in his right mind?
One cannot make sound policy without being in one’s right mind.
Delusional Pashinyan thinks Trump will come to his rescue when–not if– Turkbeijan plus clandestine Israeli forces attack Armenia. Trump would welcome the disappearance of Armenia:
Scratch that. Why would Turkbeijan attack Armenia when the treacherous and unbalanced unArmenian Pashinyan is eager to hand the family jewels to the genocidal twins?
If Armenian voters elect him, they deserve him.
“To ignore Iran is to ignore reality.” Well said. If we only realize which of our neighbors can help us regain dignity and the spirit of resilience.
Instead of uneducated greedy people as leaders, Armenians need respectable nation builders.
Many good comments. Remember this “the enemy of my enemy is my friend and the friend of my enemy is my enemy” Having said that, Armenia has left with only one choice: IRAN. Having good relations with Iran, not only will help Armenia economically but also militarily. Kissinger once said “to be an enemy of America is dangerous but to be a friend of America is FATAL!” Case in point; look what happened to the Gulf states!
Il delirante e folle Pashinyan è riuscito a costruire (direi finalmente!) uno STATO ARMENO mai esistito nella sua storia post monarchica. Grazie a questo Primo Ministro il Mondo civile ha accolto l’Armenia tra gli altri Stati legalmente riconosciuti nel mondo. Non vi sono stati tanti incontri con i governanti del mondo libero quanto negli anni di Governo di Pashinyan.Ha fatto capire alla russia che i tempi di regionalismo e schiavitù sono finiti e anche la dipendenza economica con il mercato russo presto sarà risolto.Oggi mi sento fiero di essere Armeno e sono convinto che nei prossimi 5 anni l’Armenia farà altri passi giganti e sarà la Svizzera di caucaso.
Se tutto questo è opera di un folle viva la follia.
Reduced to its leading players, the current Armenia drama features the following: Armenia, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Europe, and the United States. The core plot is which way should Armenia incline. Turkey and Azerbaijan are automatically jettisoned as Armenia’s friends. Europe, despite Macron’s friendly gestures, will not send a single soldier to defend Armenia. America’s recent tract record as a reliable ally is in shambles. Besides, since Turkey is a NATO member and Azerbaijan offers petroleum, the U.S. will not side with Armenia. Incidentally, Trump didn’t mention the Genocide of Armenians this year. While Iran is a good neighbor, it can’t afford–especially these days–to go to war on our behalf. That leaves Russia as the only choice. Although Moscow betrayed us during the recent wars, we should still align with Russia because it needs us. However, Russia’s commitment to Armenia’s defense should be airtight and Putin should place more soldiers in Armenia and even integrate our forces. And yes, Trump’s highway should be tossed into the dust bin while the highway linking Iran to Armenia should be widened.
I fully agree with Colonel Keusseyan’s point. Armenia cannot afford illusions about great-power “friendships.” The examples are many. One could also add the Kurds of Rojava: they fought ISIS, served Western interests at a critical moment, and were then repeatedly left exposed when those interests shifted.
For Armenia, this is a serious lesson. Iran may not be an ideal partner, but it is a real neighbor, a strategic necessity, and a counterweight to Turkish-Azerbaijani pressure. In this region, geography often matters more than promises.
Dear Mesrop
As someone looking at this from inside Turkey, I must admit that what troubles me most is not whether Europe, Russia, or the United States will ultimately stand by Armenia. Great powers have always acted according to their interests and probably always will.
What I struggle to understand is something else.
Living in Turkey, I have spent my entire life observing the mentality that shaped the destruction of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and later the policies directed against Kurds. I see no serious confrontation with that history. I see no deep transformation of the state mindset. I see no evidence that the expansionist and denialist reflexes that have marked this region for more than a century have truly disappeared.
That is why I find it difficult to understand how some people in Armenia can place so much trust in Ankara’s intentions or believe that goodwill alone can overcome such a long historical record.
Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps I am too shaped by what I have witnessed in Turkey. But when I look at the language, the policies, and the strategic objectives coming from Ankara and Baku, I do not see a fundamental change of mentality. I see continuity far more than rupture.
For a long time I have been worried about Armenia. Lately that concern has only grown deeper. There are days when these developments follow me into the night and make sleep difficult.
History teaches many painful lessons. One of them is that hope is necessary, but hope should never require the abandonment of caution.
You aren’t really a country if your population is shrinking and that of your enemies have skyrocketed. This applies to armenians, greeks, europeans, Canada, the USA. In Armenia’s case, I don’t see how you expect to defend yourself with a shrinking population. On top of that, apparently Pashinian is not in favor of having a strong army and wants to just obey Azerbaijan. From what I hear, Pashinian wants to remove all mention of genocide, all symbols of Ararat, and wants to give more land to Azerbaijan and has said Artsakh is Armenia and that is all and later says Who needs land, who cares about having land. This guy became weird. I think that Armenia should not take sides. make allies with Europe, the USA, Russia, Iran. Putin will not last forever. The relationship with Russia should be maintained and the USA can afford to be an enemy with Russia forever. Armenia can’t afford to lose a friend. Iran should be treated as a friend. The USA can afford to be enemies with Iran forever. The hurdles are something that Europe/Canada/USA/Australia should solve. They have to figure out how to control Turkbaijan. They have to figure out how to make Armenia an ally and how to do business with Armenia. So far, for the so-called human rights advocate of the world, they have a poor track record. Shouldn’t they force Turkey to pay Armenia? Shouldn’t they kick out Turkey from Greece’s land and Cyprus? The only country that sent a warship to Turkey to get them out of Greece’s waters is France. The rest are cowards and traitors. I don’t know why these guys can‘t be friends with Russia. In fact, they are all idiots, aren’t they? How stupid is Putin to start a war that lasts 4 y with Ukraine? What was his goal? To reduce the population of Ukraine and Russia? Ukraine had the lowest birth rate in Europe. Russia’s birth rate is pretty low as well. Putin, just apologize and put a stop to your stupid war. What a huge mess.
Թուրքիայից Հայաստան են ներմուծվել կեղծ անձնագրե՞ր
https://youtu.be/3mzkjP4VSPg?si=bMaz-sSQYs0kRf7E
Setrag