Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s message on Citizen’s Day.
“Dear people, proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia,
Today we celebrate Citizen’s Day, and what does it mean? We emphasize the democratic nature of the Republic of Armenia, where the people, the collective of citizens, are the only source and bearer of power.
After the People’s non-violent velvet revolution of 2018, no election at any level was rigged in the Republic of Armenia, and the Citizens had the opportunity to make decisions: to elect the council of elders, the head of the community, the National Assembly and the Prime Minister by free will. The free expression of the voters has become the only formula for the formation of the government.
This was one of the primary and critical goals of the 2018 Revolution, which has been fully realized. There are no political prisoners in the Republic of Armenia; no thought, idea, or information can be conveyed to the public through television or mass media; social networks and political, public, and economic activities are entirely free.
Our opponents say that we should not have democracy, but we should also not have the disastrous failures that we had, particularly in the 44-day war and after that.
But at least today, I will have the courage to say. Those catastrophes happened as a result of not having democracy, legality, and free civil debate for many years because of the taboos, patterns, and “truths” that were created under clear titles, but not for the sake of statehood. We could not overcome those taboos and stereotypes then; that was our greatest failure.
With the implementation of these taboos, an attempt is made to prevent the development of political, civil, and political science thought. Still, our responsibility to the future will compel us to say: the Motherland is the state, which must be concrete, love for the Motherland is law-abiding, citizenship is identity, the guarantor of security. It is peace, and the future will be built on these pillars.
And is the citizen of the Republic of Armenia proud?
One should and must be proud because, thus, facing epoch-making challenges, developing the country and the economy, and not betraying the essence and values of democracy is the natural source of pride.
And so:
Long Live Freedom
Long live the Republic of Armenia
Long live our children, who will live in a Free and Happy Armenia.
I love all of you, am proud of you, and bow to all of you.”
