In a lengthy press briefing touching on internal affairs and the peace process with Azerbaijan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has threatened Armenian law enforcement agencies with ‘mass dismissals’ if ‘moles’ who informed former President Robert Kocharyan of his arrest are not found.

‘Who called Robert Kocharyan the evening before and told him about the search?’, Pashinyan said in his press briefing on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Robert Kocharyan and his son Sedrak Kocharyan, along with four others, were arrested on charges of large-scale corruption during Robert Kocharyan’s time in office.

‘I will enter the building. Anyone who comes out in front of me will be fired’, Pashinyan said.

The remarks came after a video was posted from Kocharyan’s youngest son, opposition MP Levon Kocharyan’s home, showing a sign reading ‘Welcome National Security Service’ facing his front door, where a masked police officer can be seen standing.

Pashyinyan added in the same press briefing that former presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, as well as Gagik Tsarukyan, a businessperson and the leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia party, should live only on their pensions and legal income.

‘Whatever they have acquired illegally must be returned to the Republic of Armenia and its people, grain by grain, penny by penny. There is no other option. If this does not happen, it means that a new revolution must take place’, he said.

On Monday, when presenting his government’s five-year plan to the parliament, Pashinyan announced that the return of illegally acquired state assets is still one of their priorities.

Pashinyan also touched on his conflict with the Church and Catholicos Karekin II, who is standing trial alongside six other clergy members for refusing to reinstate a pro-Pashinyan bishop.

He claimed Karekin II sent groups to different places to assess the potential of ‘starting a movement’, not unlike the Holy Struggle movement.

Holy Struggle, founded in 2024 under the name Tavush for the Motherland, initially protested the border delimitation process with Azerbaijan. The movement gradually grew into a series of anti-government protests demanding Pashinyan’s resignation.

As part of his briefing, Pashinyan also answered questions about the border delimitation process with Azerbaijan. He assured MPs that the issue of enclaves and exclaves will become routine rather than a source of tension. Azerbaijan and Armenia have yet to agree on the status of several enclosed pieces of land they have within each other’s territories.

Pashinyan defended the use of Azerbaijani toponyms such as Karki, arguing that refusing to do so would fuel the conflict and legitimise the occupation of territories.

Pashinyan talked about the negotiations about electricity with Azerbaijan and
said that Armenia will require additional electricity sources and that Azerbaijan could be one of its providers. He argued that investments in AI would increase demand for electricity.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced earlier in August that his country could provide Armenia with electricity. Pashinyan subsequently confirmed that Azerbaijani working groups had already visited Armenia to conduct preliminary research.

He also mentioned that Armenia used to have an electricity surplus, but now the country might develop new demands due to growing AI infrastructure. In order to meet these new conditions and expectations, Armenia should look for other electricity sources.