Armenia's Identity at Risk: Pashinyan Pushes Constitutional Change Demanded by Azerbaijan

In a move that has shocked and angered many Armenians around the world, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has openly confirmed his plan to rewrite Armenia’s Constitution in a way that pleases Azerbaijan. This shocking admission marks the first time an Armenian leader has so clearly placed the demands of a foreign adversary above the national interests and historical truths of his own people.

At the center of this controversy is the 1990 Declaration of Independence, which defines the very foundation of Armenia’s modern statehood. This declaration draws on the 1989 unification act between Soviet Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh—an act that represented the will of Armenians to live together as one nation. The current Constitution mentions this in its preamble, affirming that Armenia’s modern path was built on the struggle for unity and self-determination.

But Azerbaijan doesn’t like that. After its violent takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, Azerbaijan has demanded that Armenia erase all traces of these historical references before it will sign any peace treaty. And now, Pashinyan is trying to deliver exactly that.

On Wednesday, Pashinyan told reporters that Armenia’s future Constitution should not include the Declaration of Independence. In his own words, he argued that the document "means that there cannot be an independent republic" and claimed that removing it would make peace with Azerbaijan possible.

This statement has raised serious concerns. What kind of leader suggests that his country’s founding document prevents statehood? How can peace be based on erasing history and fulfilling the demands of the enemy?

Pashinyan added that “the people” will ultimately decide in a referendum—but many believe this is just a tactic to give cover to a dangerous agenda. The opposition argues that Pashinyan is using national votes to legitimize decisions that most Armenians never agreed to, including the devastating 2020 ceasefire deal and now, potentially, a new Constitution that rewrites Armenia’s identity.

Political leaders from the Hayastan opposition alliance didn’t hold back. MP Artur Khachatryan said, “Pashinyan is ready to make any concessions, as he has done since November 2020, in order to cling to power.” This isn’t just political disagreement—it’s a national emergency. Every concession given to Aliyev has been followed by more aggression, more demands, and more losses for Armenia.

By trying to change the Constitution, Pashinyan is not promoting peace—he is promoting submission. He is telling the world that Armenia will abandon its own history just to satisfy an enemy that has already used force to get what it wants.

There’s no clear date for the referendum yet. Pashinyan originally suggested 2027, but his own Justice Minister, Srbuhi Galyan, said recently that the new draft Constitution will be ready before the next parliamentary elections in June 2026.

Meanwhile, the Armenian Justice Ministry refuses to say who is writing this new Constitution. The process is being done behind closed doors, without public input, without transparency, and without trust.

Opposition groups are preparing to resist. They plan to mobilize the Armenian people to reject any attempt to change the Constitution in ways that benefit Azerbaijan and weaken Armenia. They warn that giving in now will only lead to more demands, more losses, and permanent danger for Armenia’s sovereignty.

The world is watching. So are the generations yet to come.

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