Timeline
Born on 1 June in Ijevan.
Founded the daily newspaper Oragir.
Became editor of Haykakan Zhamanak.
Led post-election protests, went into hiding, and was later sentenced to seven years in prison.
Released from prison as part of a general amnesty.
Elected to parliament.
Led the Armenian Revolution and became Prime Minister.
Signed a trilateral ceasefire agreement ending the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Biography
Nikol Pashinyan, born 1 June 1975, is the 16th and current Prime Minister of Armenia, serving since 2018. Originally a journalist, he founded his own newspaper in 1998 and later edited Haykakan Zhamanak. A long-time opposition figure, he was critical of previous administrations and was imprisoned for his role in the 2008 post-election protests. Pashinyan led the 2018 Armenian Revolution, which forced the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, and subsequently became Prime Minister, winning snap elections in 2018 and 2021. He led Armenia through the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, signing a ceasefire agreement. Following the war and the 2023 displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, his approval ratings declined, but he has pursued a formal peace agreement with Azerbaijan.
Early Life & Background
Nikol Pashinyan was born on 1 June 1975 in Ijevan, Tavush province. He was named after his paternal grandfather, who died in World War II. His father, Vova Pashinyan (1940–2020), worked as a football and volleyball coach and physical education teacher. His mother Svetlana died when he was 12, and he was primarily raised by his stepmother, Yerjanik. He graduated from Ijevan Secondary School N1 in 1991. Pashinyan did not serve in the Armenian Army because his two elder brothers had already served. He considers himself more of a journalist, as journalism brought him into politics.
Education
Pashinyan studied journalism at Yerevan State University (YSU) from 1991 to 1995. He was expelled from the university before graduating. Pashinyan claimed his expulsion was due to his political activities, while Yerevan State University stated it was due to absences.
Political & Professional Career
Pashinyan entered politics as a member of Ashot Bleyan's election office in 1998. He led the Impeachment Union in the 2007 parliamentary election. A key leader in the 2008 post-election protests, he was convicted of organizing mass disorders, sentenced to seven years, and released in 2011. He was elected to parliament in 2012 with the Armenian National Congress. Later, he founded the Civil Contract party and formed the Way Out Alliance, which gained almost 8% in the 2017 parliamentary election. Pashinyan led the 2018 Armenian Revolution, forcing Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan's resignation. He was elected acting prime minister on 8 May 2018 and won snap parliamentary elections in December 2018. He formally resigned on 25 April 2021 to facilitate snap elections, remaining acting PM, and his party won the 2021 election. He has served as the 16th and current Prime Minister of Armenia since 2018.
Key Achievements & Legacy
Founded the daily newspaper Oragir in 1998., Edited the influential opposition newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak from 1999 to 2012., Led the 2018 Armenian Revolution, which resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan., Elected Prime Minister of Armenia in 2018 and secured his party's victory in snap parliamentary elections in 2018 and 2021., Prepared a formal peace agreement with Azerbaijan following the 2020 war and 2023 displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh.