Armenian Civil Contract faction MP Hripsime Grigoryan stated that Armenia has chosen peace over conflict, democracy over control, and dialogue over polarization during her speech at the annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Grigoryan said Armenia has made a conscious and, at times, difficult choice in recent years by placing democracy and peace at the core of its statehood.
She noted that since 2018 Armenia’s democratic path has faced serious challenges, including war, regional instability, and domestic pressures, but has endured and grown stronger. According to her, Armenia is now recognized by leading international indices as a country with a high level of freedom of speech and media.
“This is not an abstract achievement; it reflects a reality where public debate is vibrant, critical, sometimes uncomfortable, but free,” she said.
Grigoryan emphasized that this is particularly important in the broader European context, where increasingly complex electoral dynamics are observed, including attempts to interfere in domestic processes through hybrid tools.
She added that Armenia also faces similar challenges, including organized disinformation campaigns and efforts to advance agendas serving foreign interests.
The MP expressed concern that high-ranking clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church are allegedly being instrumentalized to serve the interests of third countries against Armenia.
According to Grigoryan, ahead of parliamentary elections, law enforcement agencies have reported attempts to channel significant financial resources into Armenia, with suspicions of their illegal use in electoral processes.
She also pointed to documented cases, including recordings, which she said indicate attempts at electoral bribery by the opposition, stressing that democracy in Armenia is not only declared but actively protected.
Grigoryan noted that the region is undergoing significant changes, highlighting that the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2025 has altered long-standing realities. She said that for the first time since independence, more than two years have passed without casualties or injuries on the border, while regional communications are reopening.
At the same time, she warned that progress remains fragile due to the broader geopolitical environment, pointing to recent developments in Iran and military actions in the wider region.
Concluding her remarks, Grigoryan said Armenia stands at a crossroads between past patterns and future opportunities and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to its chosen path, expressing appreciation for the support of international partners.