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Nikol PashinyanPrime Minister of Armenia
Date of Birth: 01.06.1975
Country:  Armenia |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Nikol Pashinyan was born on June 1, 1975, in Ijevan, Armenia. His father, Vova, was a physical education teacher and soccer coach, while his mother, Svetlana, passed away in 1987 when Nikol was 12 years old. He was raised by his stepmother, Yerjanik Chibukhchyan.
During the Karabakh movement in 1988, Pashinyan led student strikes, marches, and demonstrations. After graduating high school in 1991, he enrolled in the journalism department of Yerevan State University, where he excelled academically. However, he was later expelled for criticizing the university's administration.
Journalism Career
Alongside his studies, Pashinyan pursued journalism. From 1993 to 1994, he served as a correspondent for the newspaper "Dprutyun." He also worked for "Lragir," "Lragir-or," and "Молорак" before becoming the editor of the "M-S-E" supplement of "Молорак" in 1995.
In 1998, Pashinyan founded and became the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Oragir." His journalistic work often garnered criticism and legal action. In 1999, "Oragir" was accused of publishing defamatory material and fined. Pashinyan was arrested and later sentenced to a year in prison. He was released in 2011 under an amnesty.
Political Career
In the 2007 parliamentary elections, Pashinyan led the "Impeachment" bloc, which demanded the removal of President Robert Kocharyan and Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. The bloc failed to meet the electoral threshold.
Pashinyan became a member of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's presidential campaign in 2008. After the 2008 unrest in Yerevan, he was declared a fugitive. He surrendered to authorities in 2009 and was sentenced to seven years in prison for organizing mass protests. His sentence was later reduced, and he was released in 2011.
Rise to Power
In 2018, Pashinyan led the "Velvet Revolution," a series of peaceful protests that resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. Pashinyan was elected as Prime Minister on May 8, 2018.
As Prime Minister, Pashinyan has implemented numerous reforms, including anti-corruption measures, judicial reforms, and economic liberalization. He has also prioritized improving relations with Armenia's neighbors and strengthening the country's international standing.
