{"id":77291,"date":"2026-08-08T17:07:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/?p=77291"},"modified":"2026-08-21T17:18:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T15:18:18","slug":"the-threat-of-war-as-a-political-message-from-nikol-pashinyans-statement-to-the-latest-parliamentary-debates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/the-threat-of-war-as-a-political-message-from-nikol-pashinyans-statement-to-the-latest-parliamentary-debates\/","title":{"rendered":"The threat of war as a political message: from Nikol Pashinyan’s statement to the latest parliamentary debates"},"content":{"rendered":"

The threat of war as a political message: from Nikol Pashinyan’s statement to the latest parliamentary debates<\/h1>\n

\"Security\"<\/p>\n

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  1. Security <\/span><\/strong> concerns <\/span><\/strong> at the heart of <\/strong><\/span>the political <\/span><\/strong> agenda<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Security issues continue to play a key role in Armenia\u2019s political discourse, often becoming one of the main elements of political struggle and electoral technologies. During the recent discussions and debates in the National Assembly, another wave of clashes between the government and the opposition erupted over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan\u2019s statement during the pre-election period, in which he warned that a \u201ccatastrophic war\u201d could occur in September if the \u201cCivil Contract\u201d party did not receive a constitutional majority.<\/span><\/p>\n

    This statement, which was originally made in the heat of the election campaign, has not only lost its relevance months later, but has also become one of the central topics of political analysis, mutual accusations, and parliamentary hearings.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Opposition forces claim that the government used “fear propaganda” to exert psychological pressure on voters and extract votes. Government representatives, on the contrary, declare that it was an open and honest assessment of geopolitical risks, which aimed to prepare society for possible developments.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The question that concerns political scientists and sociologists today is the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

    How did <\/span><\/em><\/strong> the content <\/em><\/strong>and <\/em><\/strong>political <\/em><\/strong>perception <\/em><\/strong>of the declaration <\/em><\/strong>of <\/em><\/strong>the danger <\/em><\/strong>of war <\/em><\/strong><\/span>change <\/span><\/em><\/strong> over <\/em><\/strong>time <\/em><\/strong>, <\/em><\/strong>and <\/em><\/strong>what <\/em><\/strong>impact <\/em><\/strong>might <\/em><\/strong>it <\/em><\/strong>have <\/em><\/strong>had <\/em><\/strong>on <\/em><\/strong>the psychology <\/em><\/strong>of post-war <\/em><\/strong>society <\/em><\/strong>and <\/em><\/strong>voter <\/em><\/strong>behavior ?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. Chronology <\/span><\/strong>: <\/span><\/strong> The evolution <\/strong><\/span>of the statement <\/span><\/strong> and <\/strong>the change <\/strong>in emphasis<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Election announcement<\/span><\/p>\n

      2026<\/span><\/p>\n

      Nikol Pashinyan stated during a pre-election rally that the failure of the Civil Contract party to obtain a constitutional majority could lead to a \u201ccatastrophic war\u201d as early as September. The emphasis was placed on <\/span>internal <\/span><\/strong> political <\/span><\/strong> stability <\/span><\/strong> and <\/span><\/strong> the reproduction <\/strong><\/span>of power<\/span><\/strong> as the primary factor preventing war.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Change of position after the elections<\/span><\/p>\n

      In the National Assembly and in various speeches, the Prime Minister changed the emphasis, declaring: \u201cIf we continue to pursue the peace agenda, we can prevent war.\u201d The emphasis shifted to the field of <\/strong><\/span>foreign <\/span><\/strong> policy <\/span><\/strong> and the <\/strong>\u201c <\/strong>Crossroads <\/strong>of Peace <\/strong>\u201d\/\u201c <\/strong>Peace <\/strong>Treaty <\/strong>\u201d<\/strong> concepts.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Combining <\/span><\/strong> statements <\/strong><\/span>and <\/span><\/strong> causal <\/span><\/strong> relationships<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      The combination of the two statements indicates a structural shift in the political message.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      1. First <\/span><\/strong> announcement <\/span><\/strong>( <\/span><\/strong>Pre-election <\/span><\/strong> period <\/span><\/strong>):<\/span><\/strong>\n