Armenian Politicians Clash Over the Role and Future of the Diaspora

Debates surrounding the role of the Armenian Diaspora and national institutions continue to heat up within Armenia's political arena. Representatives of the ruling government and the opposition have showcased fundamentally different approaches to this deeply rooted issue.

Opposition Accusations

Tigran Abrahamyan, a former deputy of the National Assembly, strongly criticized the government in a recent Facebook post. He claims that the current regime is actively targeting individuals and organizations dedicated to the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the defense of Artsakh, and the protection of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

According to the former lawmaker, these actions are deliberate attempts by the authorities to appease neighboring Baku (Azerbaijan) and Ankara (Turkey). Abrahamyan further argued that this ongoing pressure is directed against the entire Armenian nation, both within Armenia and abroad.

The Ruling Party's Position

Offering a starkly different perspective during an earlier speech in the National Assembly, Arman Yeghoyan, a deputy from the ruling "Civil Contract" faction, stated that the narrative of a simultaneously powerful Diaspora and a powerful Armenia is largely a myth.

"By definition, the Diaspora can only grow physically stronger over time due to an influx of new migrants," arminfo.info quotes Yeghoyan as saying.

The ruling party deputy expressed his conviction that, regardless of the host country, the Armenian Diaspora has never grown sustainably through natural generational reproduction.

"Throughout history, such a thing has never happened," the arminfo.info source reports him adding.