“Why Are You Alive?”: Pashinyan Explodes at Artsakh Armenian During Heated Election Campaign Clash in Yerevan

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan exploded in anger during a campaign event in Yerevan after being confronted by Artsakh activist Arthur Osipyan, leading to a chaotic scene, public outrage, and the activist’s later detention by police.

The incident took place during a campaign stop by the ruling Civil Contract party in Yerevan’s Arabkir district ahead of Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections.

Osipyan approached Pashinyan and sharply criticized him over his role in Artsakh politics, accusing the Armenian prime minister of supporting former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan during the 2018 and 2020 elections and helping what he described as a corrupt political system remain in power.

According to Osipyan, Artsakh Armenians who opposed the former authorities had been abandoned, while Pashinyan allegedly backed the same figures they were fighting against.

“You supported him and turned a blind eye to him distributing money. We in Artsakh were fighting against the corrupt clan, and you came and helped them,” Osipyan told Pashinyan.

Pashinyan denied the accusations and defended his support for Harutyunyan.

“How did I support him? I supported him, but the people of Karabakh had to choose. Then who should I have supported?” Pashinyan responded.

The confrontation intensified as Osipyan accused Pashinyan of helping destroy Artsakh and repeating Azerbaijani narratives. The activist also raised questions about the collapse of the OSCE Minsk Group process and concerns surrounding Azerbaijani refugee issues.

Pashinyan became visibly enraged during the exchange.

“Don’t talk nonsense. It’s not according to what he says (Azerbaijan). Why have you come here spreading Azerbaijani narratives?” Pashinyan shouted.

Osipyan immediately fired back.

“You are the one spreading Azerbaijani narratives. Speak a little more calmly. The Azerbaijani narrative is when you say no schools were built in Artsakh,” he answered.

Pashinyan then made another controversial statement, saying: “Yes, no schools were built. All of you stole everything.”

Osipyan rejected the accusation and responded: “Mesrop Mashtots built them in the 5th century. You are lying, you are the one who stole.”

The situation rapidly spiraled out of control. Supporters of the Civil Contract pulled Osipyan away, but Pashinyan continued yelling insults and accusations toward the activist and other Artsakh Armenians.

“Get lost, you fool. Let the pseudo-elites of Karabakh get out of here and leave. Who are these people? Get out entirely. You smashed your head into the wall — you should have gone and died in place of our children, you thieving animals. They came talking about the Karabakh issue. If the Karabakh issue mattered, you should have gone and died. Why are you alive? Why are you alive, you scum? Why didn’t you die? Why is Shahramanyan alive? Why are your so-called National Assembly members alive?” Pashinyan shouted while attempting to move toward Osipyan.

Several Civil Contract supporters standing nearby were also heard chanting: “Hey idiot, get out of here.”

The remarks immediately triggered strong backlash online, particularly among Armenians from Artsakh and opposition figures, many of whom accused Pashinyan of insulting survivors of war, blockade, forced displacement, and ethnic cleansing.

Bright Armenia Party parliamentary candidate Karpis Pashoyan condemned Pashinyan’s words in a public statement.

“Nikol’s logic: if you did not die in the war, then you are already guilty and a deserter. Apparently, he expected every last Artsakh Armenian to be killed and massacred so that not even one witness would remain,” Pashoyan wrote on Facebook.

Following the confrontation, Arthur Osipyan was detained by Armenian police on suspicion of hooliganism. Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that he had been taken to the Arabkir division of the Community Police.

Lawyer Roman Yeritsyan later reported that Osipyan’s Facebook page, where he had frequently criticized Pashinyan and his government, had disappeared from the internet after the incident.

The confrontation has become one of the most explosive moments of Armenia’s election campaign so far, deepening tensions surrounding the loss of Artsakh, the fate of displaced Artsakh Armenians, and growing public anger toward Pashinyan’s government ahead of the June 7 vote.

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