Lavrov’s Symbolic Photo in Yerevan Collides with Pashinyan’s Warning: “We Can’t Build a Strong Army on the Dream of Ararat”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who has Armenian roots through his father’s side (family name Kalantaryan), arrived in Yerevan for an official visit during a time of tense relations between Armenia and Russia.

In a symbolic move, the Russian Foreign Ministry shared a photo of Lavrov walking toward the Mother Armenia monument with Mount Ararat clearly visible in the background. The image comes just as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made strong public statements about how symbols like Ararat affect Armenia’s defense and foreign policy.

In a recent interview, Pashinyan said Armenia must shift away from romantic ideas of "historic Armenia" — like reclaiming Mount Ararat — and instead focus on protecting its current, internationally recognized territory, such as Mount Aragats. He warned that using nationalist language makes it harder for Armenia to build military partnerships and buy modern weapons.

Pashinyan argued that talking about Ararat in official state policy could scare off potential allies, who may fear conflict with Turkey. He stressed that Armenia’s long-term survival depends on having a clear, peaceful vision of its future, without territorial claims beyond its borders.

“We cannot build a strong army under the Ararat narrative,” Pashinyan said. “That path leads to isolation and destruction.”

Lavrov’s visit and the photo with Ararat shows the delicate moment Armenia is facing — torn between its historical identity and its need for a realistic security strategy.