PM Pashinyan Visits the United States Facing Strong Diaspora Opposition

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is on a working visit to the United States, accompanied by his wife, Anna Hakobyan. The visit, which spans from Monday to Friday, includes participation in key international events and meetings in Washington, D.C. However, his trip has been met with notable resistance from members of the Armenian-American diaspora.

Pashinyan’s itinerary includes attending the 5th annual International Religious Freedom Summit, a global event that gathers leaders and activists advocating for religious rights. He is also set to participate in the National Prayer Breakfast, a long-standing tradition in Washington, D.C., attended by U.S. officials and international dignitaries.

Apart from these events, the Prime Minister has planned several meetings, although details regarding his engagements remain largely undisclosed.

Anna Hakobyan, his wife and an active social media figure in Armenia, joined him on this trip. She celebrated her birthday on February 1, just as they departed for the U.S. In a social media post, Hakobyan thanked her followers for their birthday wishes and noted that she would be unavailable while traveling.

Despite the official purpose of the visit, Pashinyan's presence in the U.S. has sparked significant opposition from segments of the Armenian-American community. Many in the diaspora have voiced their discontent over his policies, particularly regarding the surrender of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and his recent remarks on Armenian history such as the Armenian Genocide.

The anger stems from what critics see as Pashinyan’s role in the loss of Artsakh, a region with deep cultural and historical ties to Armenians. Following Azerbaijan’s military occupation in 2023, tens of thousands of indigenous Armenians were forcibly displaced from their homeland. Many Armenian-Americans blame Pashinyan’s government for failing to protect the region and its people.

Additionally, Pashinyan has faced backlash over statements perceived as undermining the Armenian Genocide. His rhetoric on the topic has unsettled the global Armenian community, which has long fought for international acknowledgment of the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire (modern day Turkey) during World War I.

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian has been one of the most vocal opponents of Pashinyan’s U.S. visit. In a Facebook post, Oskanian urged Armenian-Americans in Washington, D.C., to boycott a scheduled meeting with the Prime Minister at the Armenian Embassy on February 3.

“This meeting is not a mere diplomatic formality—it is a calculated attempt by a leader to salvage his shattered reputation by seeking your audience,” Oskanian wrote. “I urge you not to attend and to refuse to be used as a prop in his desperate bid for credibility.”

His statement resonated with many in the diaspora, particularly those who have protested Pashinyan’s policies since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which ended with Armenia ceding significant territories to Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan’s visit to the U.S. shows the growing divide between his administration and the Armenian diaspora. While the Armenian government seeks to strengthen international ties, many diaspora organizations and activists remain skeptical of Pashinyan’s leadership and his approach to key national issues.

As the visit unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Pashinyan can engage meaningfully with U.S. officials while addressing the concerns of his critics. The reaction from the Armenian-American community will likely influence the broader political landscape and Armenia’s relations with its global diaspora in the months ahead.