{"id":77861,"date":"2026-09-21T14:33:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T12:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/?p=77861"},"modified":"2026-10-12T11:52:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T09:52:11","slug":"nikol-pashinyan-awarded-the-hesse-peace-prize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/nikol-pashinyan-awarded-the-hesse-peace-prize\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikol Pashinyan awarded the Hesse Peace Prize"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nikol Pashinyan awarded the Hesse Peace Prize: Peace and democracy as a strategic choice for Armenia<\/span><\/h2>\n

On September 18, 2026, in the Hesse State Parliament, Germany, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan was awarded the 2025 Hesse Peace Prize.On September 18, 2026, in the Hesse State Parliament, Germany, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan was awarded the 2025 Hesse Peace Prize.<\/p>\n

The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the ISHR\/IGFM international network: Archbishop Prof. Dr. mult. Thomas Paul Schirrmacher, President of the International Council, ISHR Secretary General Matthias K. B\u00f6hning, Spokesperson of the German ISHR Section Valerio Kr\u00fcger, ISHR Director East Dr. Carmen Krusch-Gr\u00fcn, ISHR East Artem Kryvulia.<\/p>\n

Their presence was also important for the Armenian Section of the International Society for Human Rights , emphasizing that Armenia\u2019s democratic development, peace agenda, and efforts towards regional stability are also important for the international civil society.<\/p>\n

Short Summary Video<\/a> of ISHR from the Hesse State Parliament.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Dr. phil. Carmen Krusch-Gr\u00fcn, ISHR director east \u00a9 ISHR<\/p><\/div>\n

Peace Prize for choices made in difficult times<\/h2>\n

The Hessian Peace Prize<\/a> was established on the initiative of former Hesse Prime Minister Albert Oswald and his family. It is awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to peace, mutual understanding between peoples and the non-violent resolution of conflicts.<\/p>\n

Nikol Pashinyan was awarded the prize for his role in the 2018 non-violent Velvet Revolution, for paving the way for democratic elections in Armenia, and for leading the country in a direction toward peace and European democratic values. The prize, worth 25,000 euros, was presented by vice president of the Hesse State Parliament, Dr. Daniela Sommer (Astrid Wallmann, President of the Hesse State Parliament just had emergency appendectomy surgery).<\/p>\n

This recognition is particularly significant at a difficult time for Armenia and the entire region. After decades of conflict, wars, human losses, and deepening distrust, choosing the path of peace requires political will and great responsibility.<\/p>\n

Peace is not just the absence of war. It implies security, the protection of human rights, the establishment of democratic institutions, freedom of speech, public participation, and the gradual restoration of trust between neighboring peoples. In this sense, the Hesse Peace Prize is also an international assessment of Armenia\u2019s peace agenda and a call to continue it.<\/p>\n

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Speech by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Hesse during the peace prize award ceremony, in the Hesse state parliament \u00a9 ISHR<\/p><\/div>\n

From nonviolent revolution to democratic transformation<\/h2>\n

The Velvet Revolution of 2018 was one of the most important events in Armenia\u2019s modern history. The change of power took place with broad public participation and without violence, presenting to the world the Armenian example of a peaceful path to political change.<\/p>\n

The revolution changed not only the process of government formation, but also citizens\u2019 understanding of their own role and responsibility. Free elections, public oversight, the activation of civic initiatives, and the expansion of freedom of speech became important components of Armenia\u2019s democratic transformation.<\/p>\n

That path is certainly not over. Democracy is not a single event or a single election, but a daily work aimed at strengthening state institutions, the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and maintaining public trust. The Hesse Peace Prize is an appreciation for the path chosen by Armenia, and at the same time, a responsibility to continue and deepen it.<\/p>\n

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(from left) Ingmar <\/span> Jung, Minister of State, Dr. Daniela Sommer, Vice President of the Hessian State Parliament, Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Serap G\u00fcler, Member of the Bundestag, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, Karl Starzacher, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Hessian Peace Prize, and Michaela J\u00e4ckel-Osswald from the Albert Osswald Foundation<\/p><\/div>\n

The new challenge to democracy: disinformation and FIMI<\/h2>\n

Today, threats to democratic systems often penetrate the information field through fake news, manipulative commentary, systematic propaganda, and narratives that divide society.<\/p>\n

In the case of Armenia, Russian disinformation flows and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) mechanisms are particularly visible. They may be aimed at weakening trust in state institutions, distorting Armenia\u2019s foreign policy choices, creating distrust in European partners, and discrediting the peace process.<\/p>\n

Such interventions exploit people\u2019s real fears, the pain of war, and security concerns. And when disinformation is presented as journalism or \u201calternative opinion,\u201d it becomes much more difficult to recognize and distinguish. Therefore, today it is impossible to imagine the protection of democracy without the protection of the information environment.<\/p>\n

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Nikol Pashinyan in conversation with Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff, Executive Director at PRIF (Peace Research Institute Frankfurt), which advises the board of trustees of the Albert Osswald Foundation \u00a9 ISHR<\/p><\/div>\n

ISHR Armenia\u2019s work for an informed and resilient society<\/h2>\n

The Armenian branch of the International Human Rights Community has been working for years to protect human rights, strengthen democratic values, train journalists and youth, and raise public awareness.<\/p>\n

Important areas of this work have become monitoring disinformation flows, fact-checking, and increasing media literacy.<\/p>\n

As part of the \u201cDisinformation Flow Monitoring\u201d program, the organization monitors local and international media and social platforms, prepares fact-checking materials, analyses, and short explanatory videos. Seminars held in Yerevan and various communities in Armenia help participants distinguish fact from opinion, real information from manipulation, and journalism from propaganda.<\/p>\n

This work is particularly important in the context of a peace process. Building peace requires an informed and resilient society that makes decisions based on verified information, not fear, fake news, or external propaganda influence.<\/p>\n

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In the center, Serap G\u00fcler, Member of the Bundestag and Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office, impressed the audience with a well-grounded laudatory speech \u00a9 ISHR<\/p><\/div>\n

The importance of international cooperation<\/h2>\n

The ISHR\/IGFM international network unites national departments, experts and civil society representatives engaged in the protection of human rights from many countries around the world. The principles of human dignity, freedom, democracy and solidarity are at the heart of the network\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n

The long-term cooperation between the Armenian department and German partners provides an opportunity to implement joint programs, exchange experience, train journalists and human rights defenders, monitor democratic processes, and raise issues important to Armenia on international platforms.<\/p>\n

The participation of representatives of the ISHR\/IGFM international network at the Hessen Peace Prize award ceremony once again emphasized the importance of this cooperation.<\/p>\n

Today, when peace and democracy are exposed not only to military but also to information attacks, international partnership is more than necessary. Our common task is to protect a social and information environment in which people are free to make their own choices, have access to verified information, and can consciously participate in the democratic development of their country.<\/p>\n

The Hesse Peace Prize is an important assessment of Armenia\u2019s path. However, peace is not a final achievement: it needs to be protected, strengthened, and filled with real content every day.<\/p>\n

Click here for more info about our work in Armenia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bela Shikaryan, President of ISHR Armenia<\/em><\/p>\n

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(from left) Dr.phil Krusch-Gr\u00fcn, ISHR-east, Michael Gahler MdEP, V. Kr\u00fcger, Spokesperson ISHR German Section, Archbishop Prof. Dr. mult. Schirrmacher, President ISHR, Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Matthias B\u00f6hning, ISHR Secretary General, Artem Kryvuila, ISHR-east \u00a9 ISHR\/Warnecke<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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