Nikol Pashinyan signals territorial shifts in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace efforts

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is preparing the public for potential territorial concessions and a broader peace process with Azerbaijan. In recent statements, Pashinyan indicated that the village of Tigranashen—referred to by its Azerbaijani name, Kyarki—is not considered Armenian territory under the government’s adopted maps for border delimitation. This move is seen as laying the political groundwork for the possible handover of the strategically located village, which sits along a major highway connecting Yerevan to southern Armenia and Iran.

Addressing the National Assembly, Pashinyan emphasized that a durable peace requires more than just formal agreements on border delimitation, trade, and the unblocking of regional routes. He argued that a “social and psychological” dimension is necessary to ensure lasting stability, requiring both nations to accept each other within their internationally recognized Soviet-era borders.

Pashinyan also reaffirmed that the return of Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan remains a priority for his administration. He expressed intent to continue working toward a peace agreement and suggested that economic cooperation, including trade between Armenian and Azerbaijani businesses, could begin in the near future.