Nikol Pashinyan erhielt den Hessischen Friedenspreis: Frieden und Demokratie als strategische Wahl für Armenien

LTR: Dr.phil Krusch-Grün, ISHR-east, Michael Gahler MEP, V. Krüger, Spokesperson ISHR German Section, Archbishop Prof. Dr. mult. Schirrmacher, President ISHR, Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Matthias Böhning, ISHR Secretary General, Artem Kryvuila, ISHR-east

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. Böhning, Spokesperson of the German ISHR Section Valerio Krüger, ISHR Director East Dr. Carmen Krusch-Grün, ISHR East Artem Kryvulia.

In the photo: Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Dr. phil Carmen Krusch-Grün, ISHR director east

Their presence was also important for the Armenian Section of the International Society for Human Rights , emphasizing that Armenia’s democratic development, peace agenda, and efforts towards regional stability are also important for the international civil society.

Peace Prize for choices made in difficult times

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.

The Hessian Peace Prize 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.

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). About the Hesse Peace Prize

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.

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’s peace agenda and a call to continue it.

LTR: Ingmar Jung -Minister of State, Dr. Daniela Sommer -Vice President of the Hessian State Parliament, Nikol Pashinyan- Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Serap Gühler – 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 Jäckel-Osswald

From nonviolent revolution to democratic transformation

The Velvet Revolution of 2018 was one of the most important events in Armenia’s 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.

The revolution changed not only the process of government formation, but also citizens‘ 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’s democratic transformation.

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.

The new challenge to democracy: disinformation and FIMI

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

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’s foreign policy choices, creating distrust in European partners, and discrediting the peace process.

Such interventions exploit people’s real fears, the pain of war, and security concerns. And when disinformation is presented as journalism or „alternative opinion,“ 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.

ISHR Armenia’s work for an informed and resilient society

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.

Important areas of this work have become monitoring disinformation flows, fact-checking, and increasing media literacy.

As part of the “Disinformation Flow Monitoring” 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.

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.

Center: Serap Gühler, Member of the Bundestag and Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office, impressed the audience with a well-grounded laudatory speech.

The importance of international cooperation

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’s activities.

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.

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.

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.

The Hesse Peace Prize is an important assessment of Armenia’s path. However, peace is not a final achievement: it needs to be protected, strengthened, and filled with real content every day.

Bela Shikaryan, President of ISHR Armenia