Armenian premier`s visit to Washington meets with protests

ArmInfo. The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) organized a protest action in front of the Armenian Embassy in Washington in connection with the visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the US capital.

As reported by the press service of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun (ARF),  young people came to the embassy with posters: "The prisoners are  forgotten", "Artsakh is betrayed", "no to the denial of the  Genocide", "The territory of Armenia is under occupation". Thus,  representatives of the Armenian Diaspora expressed their condemnation  of Pashinyan's policy, which, in their opinion, threatens the  sovereignty of Armenia and leaves the people of Artsakh to the mercy  of fate.

As noted in the ARF statement, such demonstrations highlight the  growing discontent among the Diaspora, especially among the youth,  who perceive Pashinyan's actions as a betrayal of national interests.

"[Pashinyan] has chosen to come to Washington, our hometown, where he  expects us to honor him, to act as his stage props, and to normalize  his shameful surrender of Armenian lives and land, democracy and  dignity. Now, it's our turn to make a choice. To refuse to be used.  To stand up for actual Armenian values-our core national interests  and aspirations," noted the ARF Washington DC "Sebouh" Gomideh, in a  statement issued to Armenian American community members and allies on  the eve of Pashinyan's visit to the U.S. Capitol.

A note of protest was also expressed by Nairi Shahnazaryan, a member  of the Central Office of Eastern America of the Armenian National  Committee of America, emphasizing that such initiatives are aimed at  Pashinyan in order to show that the Homeland does not belong to him  for sale or surrender. He also noted that the activists thus want to  demonstrate their support to the people of Armenia and Artsakh.

"The security of Armenia, the safe return of the people of Artsakh  and the release of our prisoners of war are the most important issues  that we must protect. In Washington, Pashinyan may keep silent about  these issues, but the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) will always be  "on the front line" in the fight to voice them. His reckless policy  led us to genocide in Artsakh and the seizure of our lands. We are  concerned that the Armenian authorities, continuing this path, may  lead to the loss of Armenia," Shahnazaryan concluded.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, together with his wife Anna Hakobyan,  is on a working visit to the United States of America. At the  Armenian Embassy in the United States, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  met with the chairman of the commission on relations between the  World Council of Churches and the Vatican, Archbishop Vigen  Haykazyan, and the spiritual pastor of the Washington St.  Astvatsatsin Church, Priest Hovsep Karapetyan. During his visit, the  Prime Minister will also attend the 5th annual International  Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., as well as the National  Prayer Breakfast. A number of other meetings are also planned.