YEREVAN, March 22 (Novosti-Armenia) – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has publicly apologized to a woman forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and her child, following a sharp exchange that took place in the Yerevan metro on Friday morning. The Prime Minister also extended an invitation for a new, calm discussion.
Heated Exchange in the Metro
The incident occurred in the Yerevan Metro, where a tense and emotional dialogue unfolded between Prime Minister Pashinyan and Armine Mosiyan, a woman displaced from Artsakh. During the conversation, Pashinyan reportedly stated in a raised voice, pointing his finger, “Let those who fled not try to say that I surrendered Karabakh.” He urged the woman to abandon a “wandering spirit,” telling her that her child would live in Armenia. The woman, in turn, retorted, “We will not allow ourselves to be deprived of the hope of returning to Artsakh.” The content of this exchange quickly spread across social media, sparking widespread public debate and criticism.
Pashinyan’s Apology and Self-Criticism
Addressing the incident later, Prime Minister Pashinyan acknowledged the public reaction. “A sharp conversation took place in the metro with our dear, respected citizen displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, and I understood from certain comments and criticisms from our colleagues that not everything I said was probably as it should have been. I once again want to apologize for everything that I did not say in the form and content that it should have been,” Pashinyan stated.
He admitted that he still finds it difficult to discuss the events of 2023 without emotion, calling it a significant shortcoming. “I accept this shortcoming; I cannot overcome that moment. Whenever a conversation on this topic comes up – I just remembered, in the National Assembly, I have never been able to restrain my emotions. But a little while ago, I promised that one day I will address this topic fully and calmly,” he added.
Direct Appeal to Armine Mosiyan
Upon learning the woman’s name, Armine Mosiyan, Pashinyan addressed her directly. “Dear Ms. Mosiyan, I apologize to you and your son for the emotions. I hope we will have another opportunity to meet in the metro or somewhere else and talk calmly. I would like that conversation to happen. I know you will refuse, and you will say two rude words after, I accept that with humility, but if it ever crosses your mind that it is worth it for us to put down the phone and arrange to talk calmly, without emotions, know that I am at your disposal and I accept that invitation from the outset. I admit that I did not say something correctly, did not use the right gestures, did not use the right tone, did not use the right facial expression, and in some places, I did not treat the content correctly either. But again, this topic is still one of the most emotional topics for me, and I apologize to everyone, but I accept that a calm conversation on this topic should take place,” he concluded.
Context of the Incident
The tense exchange comes in the wake of Azerbaijan’s large-scale aggression against Artsakh on September 19-20, 2023, which involved artillery, UAVs, and combat aircraft. As a result, the residents of Artsakh were forced to relocate to Armenia, leading to a humanitarian crisis and ongoing challenges for the displaced population.
