Pashinyan confirms firing genocide memorial head for giving Vance book on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Pashinyan has confirmed the resignation of the head of the Armenian Genocide Memorial following her provision of a book concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to US Vice President JD Vance. During a press briefing on Thursday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Edita Gzoyan, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation, of violating government foreign policy. He emphasized that the Armenian government should not continue the Karabakh Movement, a significant national movement initiated in the 1980s advocating for the transfer of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast from Azerbaijan to Armenia.

Pashinyan strongly criticized the Karabakh movement and political opponents, delivering an impassioned speech in parliament. In response, Serzh Sargasyan’s office labeled Pashinyan a “national security threat.” The situation arose after Gzoyan presented Vance with the book, which she intended to illustrate the connection between the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Armenian Genocide. Pashinyan deemed the action “provocative” and “contradicting” the government’s policy.

He questioned the capacity of individuals within Armenia to conduct foreign policy, asserting that any state official contradicting government policy should be dismissed. Pashinyan stressed that Armenia is a state, not a “amateur club.” Reports indicated that Gzoyan was pressured to resign, initially due to concerns regarding renovations at the Genocide Memorial Complex, though this responsibility did not fall within her official duties. She reportedly discussed the massacres with Vance during his visit, providing him with the book to highlight the connection to the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian authorities remain cautious regarding the conflict as they normalize relations with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan alluded to his dissatisfaction with Gzoyan’s actions during a parliamentary session, stating that “things have happened that would have been better if they hadn’t happened.” The Armenian Genocide memorial head was “forced to quit” after JD Vance’s visit.

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