Majority of Armenian Citizens Oppose Constitutional Amendments, Poll Reveals

A recent public opinion poll shows that most Armenian citizens are against making changes to the country’s constitution. The survey, conducted by sociologist Aram Navasardyan, gathered responses from 1,100 people through telephone interviews between February 27 and March 6.

According to the poll results, 59.6% of respondents believe that Armenia’s constitution should remain unchanged. Only 18.4% supported amending certain parts of the constitution, while 7.5% felt that the country needed an entirely new constitution. Meanwhile, 14.5% of those surveyed were unsure or did not provide a clear answer.

The findings come amid recent statements by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has argued that constitutional amendments are necessary for Armenia’s future. He cited concerns about Azerbaijan’s constitution, which includes references to historical claims over Armenian territories. According to Pashinyan, the Azerbaijani Constitution makes territorial demands against Armenia, listing various Armenian regions as part of Azerbaijan’s past administrative structure.

Despite these concerns, Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia is not seeking changes to Azerbaijan’s constitution. He noted that doing so could derail the ongoing peace talks between the two countries. Instead, the Prime Minister highlighted a key provision in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty, which states that neither country can use its internal laws to justify failing to uphold the agreement. The treaty also affirms that both nations recognize each other’s territorial integrity and commit to refraining from making territorial claims in the future.

Pashinyan elaborated on the legal procedures Armenia must follow before signing the peace treaty. According to Armenian law, the treaty must first be submitted to the Constitutional Court to verify whether it aligns with the country’s constitution. If the court finds inconsistencies, Armenia would have to decide whether to amend its constitution or reconsider the treaty’s terms. However, the Prime Minister believes such a scenario is unlikely, citing a previous court decision on September 26, 2024, which laid the groundwork for constitutional compatibility.

If the court approves the treaty, it will then go to Armenia’s parliament for ratification. Pashinyan explained that, under Article 5 of Armenia’s constitution, international treaties ratified by Armenia take precedence over national laws. This means that once the treaty is ratified, it will have greater legal authority than Armenia’s existing laws, effectively settling the issue of territorial claims.

During the press conference, Pashinyan also addressed the future of the OSCE Minsk Group, which previously mediated peace efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He acknowledged that if there is no longer a conflict, the purpose of the Minsk Group could be questioned. However, he expressed caution, stating that Armenia wants assurance that Azerbaijan is not using the disbanding of the Minsk Group as a pretext to pursue aggressive policies under the guise of the “Western Azerbaijan” narrative.

Azerbaijan has claimed that the concept of “Western Azerbaijan” is not a territorial claim against Armenia but rather an issue related to the right of refugees to return to their former homes. However, Pashinyan dismissed this argument, asserting that Azerbaijan is attempting to justify territorial ambitions using historical narratives. He stated that if Azerbaijan is genuinely referring to displaced populations, then the issue should only concern the regions within Azerbaijan’s recognized borders, not Armenian territory.

With strong opposition from Armenian citizens to constitutional amendments and ongoing geopolitical tensions with Azerbaijan, the government faces a challenging path ahead. While the peace treaty offers a potential resolution, it remains to be seen how the Armenian public, political opposition, and the Constitutional Court will respond to the proposed agreement.

The results of the recent poll indicate that while there is resistance to changing Armenia’s constitution, the broader goal of ensuring peace and stability in the region remains a priority. As negotiations continue, the Armenian government will have to balance domestic concerns with diplomatic obligations to secure a lasting resolution to the long-standing conflict with Azerbaijan.