Pashinyan Names Former U.S. Ambassador Lilit Makunts as Chief of Staff

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced Wednesday that former Armenian Ambassador to the United States Lilit Makunts will serve as his new chief of staff, bringing a veteran diplomat and longtime political ally back into the center of Armenia's government.

Makunts led Armenia's embassy in Washington from 2021 to 2025, representing the country during a period of expanding ties with the United States. Before her diplomatic appointment, she chaired the ruling My Step faction in the National Assembly for two and a half years, playing a key role in advancing the government's legislative agenda.

She succeeds Arayik Harutyunyan, who held the post of chief of staff for the past five years and was one of Pashinyan's closest senior aides.

Both Makunts and Harutyunyan won seats in Armenia's June 7 parliamentary elections on the ruling Civil Contract party's list. Makunts later declined her parliamentary mandate, filing a formal request with the Central Electoral Commission.

Her return to Yerevan places one of Pashinyan's most trusted political figures in one of the government's most influential administrative positions, where she will oversee the day-to-day work of the prime minister's office and help coordinate government operations.

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