Armenia is facing serious issues right now that will decide what happens next

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

There's a big political mess inside the country because the government shared old, private papers about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict talks. At the very same time, Armenia is changing its plans and working more with the European Union. This isn't just happening by chance; it's a crucial time for Armenia, stuck between what happened in the past and what it wants for the future. The cause of this problem was the choice to make those negotiation files public.

Why the Files Were Made Public

Sharing these old negotiation papers is a risky move to change how people think about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the terrible war in 2020. On December 2nd, just after the OSCE Minsk Group stopped working, the Armenian government released 13 papers about the peace talks. It wasn't just about keeping records; it was meant to shake things up in the divided political world.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had said he would share these files because he said former presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan were hurting Armenia by using the conflict. By showing these private talks, the government wanted to explain the history and say who was to blame for what happened, which caused a lot of anger.

Political Trouble: A Country Split by the Past

Releasing the negotiation papers has started a big argument about who was responsible for Armenia's losses in Nagorno-Karabakh. It hasn't solved anything but has made the fight between current and former leaders much worse. People are now asking difficult questions about what could have been.

What the Government Says

The Pashinyan government said that the documents show that the old leaders had been spreading wrong ideas about the conflict for years. They said two main things:

1. The talks were always about giving the seven areas around Karabakh back to Azerbaijan. They say that any talks about Karabakh's status meant it would stay part of Azerbaijan.

2. The government blamed former President Serzh Sargsyan, saying he knew war was unavoidable. They say he was just trying to get back into power when he said Pashinyan was going to give away land.

The Opposition Fights Back

The opposition quickly criticized the government, saying:

• They Only Showed Some Documents: People said the government only shared some of the papers to create a story that made them look good and the old leaders look bad.

• They Rejected a Peace Plan: The opposition says Pashinyan turned down a peace plan in 2019, which was like the Madrid Principles and the Lavrov Plan. They say that by refusing this, Pashinyan caused the war.

Opposition leaders strongly condemned this, using the documents to back up what they've been saying for a long time.

Levon Zurabyan of the Armenian National Congress party said, Everything we said has been proven right. He said that accepting the 2019 plan would have brought peace, the end of the blockade, and international peacekeeping forces.

Eduard Sharmazanov of the former ruling Republican Party said that Pashinyan's words caused the conflict by saying 'Artsakh is Armenia. Period!' and we got war.

The Issue with the Key West Agreements

People are arguing specifically about why the government didn't share the 2001 Key West proposal, which was negotiated under former President Robert Kocharyan. The opposition wants it released so everyone can see the whole story of the negotiations.

Prime Minister Pashinyan said that the Key West documents weren't included because:

1. The government doesn't have the document.

2. He said it wasn't a real negotiation document but a conspiracy.

3. He said the proposal was connected to the 1999 shooting in the Armenian parliament.

Pashinyan also said that he was afraid of being called a traitor, which kept him from stopping the 2020 war sooner.

Yes, I was afraid. Why shouldn't I be afraid?... If I had been afraid, I wouldn't have signed the agreement of November 9 (2020). I wouldn't talk about what others have been quiet about for years.

While this political fight is going on, Armenia is also making big plans internationally.

Armenia Changes Its Direction: Working with the EU

Armenia's government is working to build a stronger relationship with the European Union, seeing it as important for their security and future.

Creating a New Plan

Armenia and the European Union have made a new plan to make their relationship more serious. After a meeting in Brussels, the EU said they would work together more closely. This includes:

• Helping Armenia make changes in the country.

• Helping Armenia's economy grow and change.

• Talking about making it easier for Armenians to get visas.

• Working together on security.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said this would start a completely new agenda. He said Armenia wants to join the EU eventually.

Looking at the EU's Money Package

The EU is giving €15 million to support peace and a stronger Armenia. This money will go to important areas for security and stability, which shows that the EU understands what Armenia is facing.

The EU is investing in:

• Demining: To train people and provide equipment to remove mines and build trust in the region.

• Border Management: To make Armenia's borders more secure and improve regional security.

• Counter-Disinformation: To find and stop false information from other countries, especially from Russia and its proxy networks before the 2026 elections.

The EU is showing support for Armenia by saying, You are not facing these problems alone. We are here to help. This connects the EU's money with the bigger picture of Armenia's future.

The Overlapping Problems: What It Means for Armenia's Future

The political fighting in Armenia and its change in direction toward Europe are connected. Together, they will decide what happens to Armenia's stability, international position, and internal politics. This could mean:

• Problems with Stability: The public fight over who is to blame for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh could create a political mess. This could make Armenia open to influence from other countries, especially Russia, which has used these issues to stay in control in the past.

• A Message to Other Countries: Armenia is sending a clear message to other countries by looking into past negotiation problems involving Russia and working with the EU on security. This could weaken Russia's role as the main security power in the South Caucasus. It also makes the EU's support look like a new security promise, taking away Armenia's dependence on Russia.

• Help from Outside and Internal Politics: The EU's support, especially in fighting false information, is getting involved in Armenia's information. By helping the government fight false information from Russian networks, the EU could help the government stand up against pro-Russian opposition and change Armenia's internal politics.

These problems together mean that Armenia will face a time of change and uncertainty.

In Conclusion

Armenia is at a turning point, dealing with big issues. The country is struggling with a bitter fight over who was responsible for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is hurting its politics and society. At the same time, it is trying to create a new future with the European Union, hoping for security, change, and economic growth. What happens to Armenia depends on how well it can handle its internal problems and build new relationships with other countries. Armenia's future will depend on its ability to create a new identity that isn't just about the past, which is hard because of the political fight that the government has started.