Month: November 2025

Pashinyan: Recent speech on trust and KGB – Google Search  google.com/search?q=Pashinya…
In a recent speech, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed issues of national security reforms and public trust in state institutions, referencing a broader need to overcome past influences, which in public discourse and civil society discussions are often linked to the legacy of the KGB and Russian influence. [1, 2]
Key points from his recent statements include:

Need for Lustration and Reform: While Pashinyan did not use the term “KGB” himself in the snippets available, an October 2025 statement from a coalition of Armenian civil society organizations supporting his government’s “cleanup” efforts explicitly mentioned the “penetration of Russian KGB influence into various layers of our society” over the past 30 years and called for lustration to counter this. This suggests the term and its associated historical context are part of the ongoing public debate that Pashinyan’s reforms address.
Strengthening State Institutions and Public Trust: Pashinyan has emphasized the need to increase people’s trust in state institutions, particularly the judiciary and law enforcement bodies. He has linked the lack of trust in the judicial system to its historical disconnect from the people and the need for a new constitution to address this fundamental problem.
Security Service Reorganization: Pashinyan has consistently pushed for reforms in the National Security Service (NSS), aiming to transform it primarily into a counterintelligence body, while creating a separate Foreign Intelligence Service. He argues that separating intelligence and counterintelligence functions aligns with international best practices and strengthens the service, though some critics view these efforts as part of a broader move away from Russian influence.
Combating Corruption: Pashinyan has indicated that high levels of corruption in the past were systemic and pervasive, undermining public trust in investigations and court rulings. He stressed the importance of credibility in the fight against corruption, ensuring that anti-corruption measures are serious and effective, which requires robust institutional guarantees. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

In summary, Pashinyan’s recent public addresses focus on deep-seated institutional reforms, democratic consolidation, and building public trust, within a context where external commentators and civil society groups specifically reference the need to counter historical KGB/Russian influence. [1, 5]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  facebook.com/CivilNet.TV/pos…
[2]  news.am/eng/news/911386.html
[3]  arminfo.info/full_news.php?i…
[4]  primeminister.am/en/statemen…
[5]  asbarez.com/touting-himself-…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 2, 2025