This externally driven process of prescribing reforms could have dragged on for centuries without ever reaching the finish line - turning Armenia into a democracy - because there was no genuine counterbalance at the level of Government. Thus, the people changed the Government in Armenia, becoming the driving force of change and democracy. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, stated this during his address at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), as he reflected on Armenia’s decision to embark on the path of democracy.
According to Mirzoyan, the peaceful democratic revolution marked a turning point in the modern history of our country.
“After tasting the bitterness of all previous failures, starting in 2018, I myself walked alongside hundreds of thousands of my fellow citizens - my sisters and brothers - who filled the streets and cities of Armenia not with weapons, but with open hands and with the conviction that we deserved better: fair and exemplary elections; the right to form a government through our voices, through our votes; open, accountable, transparent governance; institutions free from corruption; social justice; taxes spent for the people—on building schools and roads—rather than on fortresses and private estates for oligarchs and corrupt officials; businesses that do not pay bribes to officials and are free of artificial monopolies; an independent and effective judiciary.
We proved that our nation can choose its own destiny. Since 2018, Armenia has carried out large-scale reforms,” he said.
The Minister also recalled that Armenia’s achievements since 2018 are reflected in the indices, reports, and resolutions of authoritative organizations such as Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, Transparency International, and many other reputable institutions.
