Grieving Mother Who Lost Son and Missing Grandson Confronts Pashinyan Campaign, Blocked by Police and Supporters
- Jun 1
- 3 min read
A grieving Armenian mother whose son was killed during the 2020 war and whose grandson remains missing was prevented from approaching Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a campaign event in Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district on Sunday, leading to a tense confrontation between mourners, police officers and supporters of the ruling Civil Contract party.
Mariam Vardanyan arrived at the campaign stop carrying a black heart symbol and hoping to speak directly with the prime minister. Witnesses at the scene said police officers and ruling party supporters blocked her from reaching Pashinyan as he campaigned nearby.
The confrontation unfolded as music played and supporters waved the party's orange heart symbols around the prime minister. Pashinyan regularly concludes campaign speeches by honoring Armenia's war dead, often saying, "Glory to the martyrs and long live the Republic of Armenia."
Standing only a short distance from the prime minister, Vardanyan broke into tears as she described the losses her family suffered during the 44-day war.
"This show that he organized, mourners like me have no heart for it. He brings his orange hearts to this place, while my children, both of them ... my Arman ... my king-like son, bright as light, died together with his child. He took my children to Jabrayil. Why did you take my children and slaughter them? Why did you destroy my home?" she said.
According to witnesses, Vardanyan had learned earlier in the day that Pashinyan would be visiting the neighborhood and came hoping to personally deliver her message. Despite repeatedly asking to be allowed through, she remained behind a police cordon and a crowd of campaign supporters.
"He came here advertising himself so he can get re-elected. This is my heart, look people, he loves nobody, he only wants his chair, he will not enjoy it," she said while holding the black heart.
Video from the scene showed the woman crying and pleading with officers to let her pass as loud music, applause, whistles and chants from the crowd drowned out her voice.
"Let me go, don't hold me, I feel bad," she said.
Witnesses said a woman wearing a white jacket was particularly active in preventing Vardanyan from moving closer to the campaign group. At one point, the woman allegedly pushed the grieving mother and demanded that journalists stop filming the incident.
Later, social media users identified the woman as Anaida Galstyan. Public information on her Facebook page states that she is originally from Stepanakert, and photographs posted on the account appear to show her wearing a police uniform.
Another supporter of the ruling party was heard asking Vardanyan how much money she had allegedly been paid, echoing accusations frequently directed at critics of the prime minister by government supporters.
The incident comes as security around Pashinyan has visibly increased during the parliamentary election campaign following several confrontations with critics in Yerevan and other communities. Police officers and members of Armenia's Patrol Service have repeatedly formed barriers between protesters and the prime minister during campaign appearances.
Last week, after another confrontation with a critic during a campaign rally, Pashinyan instructed police officers from the stage to remove a woman from the gathering.
"Take the woman away to the police, yes. This is a gathering of supporters. If you do not agree, leave," Pashinyan said at the time.
The confrontation involving Vardanyan took place on the 25th day of Armenia's parliamentary election campaign. The same day also marked Pashinyan's 51st birthday. Supporters congratulated him during the campaign stop in Malatia-Sebastia while music played in the background, including Tata Simonyan's song "I Turned 16."
Later in the evening, the prime minister continued public appearances on Northern Avenue, where he congratulated children participating in Children's Day events in Yerevan.
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