Nikol Pashinyan

Nikol Pashinyan is the current Prime Minister of Armenia, having led the country since 2018. He rose to prominence as a key figure in the Velvet Revolution, which overthrew the long-time authoritarian government in 2018. The EU's recent decision to send experts to help counter Russian interference in Armenia highlights Pashinyan's efforts to strengthen ties with Western countries and counterbalance Russia's influence in the region. As tensions between Russia and Armenia continue to rise, Pashinyan's leadership is under scrutiny. His government has faced criticism for its handling of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, which resulted in significant losses for Armenian forces. The recent internet crackdown in Russia has also led to growing discontent among Russians, potentially affecting Armenia's relations with Russia and Pashinyan's position as leader.