According to reports in the Armenian press, the Armenian diaspora in the United States attempted to appeal to US President Donald Trump for the release of businessman and separatist Ruben Vardanyan. However, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan refused to endorse this initiative. It is reported that some diaspora representatives reached out to President Trump’s son-in-law, seeking to involve the White House in the matter. The US side responded that it would only consider the issue if there were an official request from Yerevan. Armenia’s Ambassador to the US, Lilit Manukyants, conveyed the diaspora’s request to the Prime Minister, but Pashinyan rejected it.
Speaking to ARB24 from Washington DC, political analyst Dr. Ahmad Shahidov stated that this development is a clear reflection of Armenia’s shifting foreign policy and the ongoing geopolitical struggle in the South Caucasus. According to Dr. Shahidov, Pashinyan is now determined to remove the Karabakh issue from the international agenda and to reach an agreement on the Zangezur Corridor through US mediation. Therefore, he avoids taking any risks regarding Ruben Vardanyan.
“Pashinyan realizes that such an appeal would provoke a serious reaction from Azerbaijan and jeopardize the ongoing peace process led by the United States. The Armenian government is now closing the Karabakh chapter and abandoning the defense of pro-Russian figures. This situation also shows that the influence of the Armenian diaspora in US politics over Armenia’s policy is diminishing,” Dr. Ahmad Shahidov noted.
He also added that Pashinyan’s visits to Brussels and Paris were no coincidence, emphasizing that the European Union is concerned about recent developments and has called Pashinyan to give explanations. “Currently, the main initiative in the region lies with the US President, and an agreement on the Zangezur Corridor is expected in the coming months. Armenia, meanwhile, aims to eliminate Russian influence from the region to maintain Western support,” Dr. Ahmad Shahidov concluded from Washington DC.
