Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees Used as Political Scapegoats Ahead of Armenian Parliamentary Elections

Ahead of Armenia's parliamentary elections, Nagorno-Karabakh refugees fear being used as political scapegoats by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his allies. Refugees are combating this discrimination via social media, while NGOs strive to secure their legal status and facilitate social integration.

Thu Jun 04 2026

Hate Speech Against Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees Spreading

Artur Harutiunian is one of over 100,000 displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh, a region whose inhabitants were forced to flee after clashes with Azerbaijan in 2023. Harutiunian uses social media to fight back against targeted hate speech. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his allies have been blaming the displaced for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh as they campaign heavily on finalizing a peace deal with Baku. This rhetoric leaves refugees feeling marginalized within Armenian society.

Challenges in Acquiring Citizenship and Social Integration

A growing number of Armenian youth are speaking out against this stigmatization. Harutiunian notes that the Prime Minister's remarks are echoed as hate speech in his comment sections, leading him to feel his voice is disregarded simply because they are legally unable to vote. To vote, access long-term housing, or secure stable jobs, Karabakh refugees must apply for full domestic citizenship. While local NGOs like Hub Artsakh are stepping in to help, the state infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the overwhelming volume of applications and the complex issues faced by refugees.

Political Calculation Behind Refugee Marginalization Strategy

Emma Petrosyan, a refugee and employee at Hub Artsakh, highlights that refugees, who have considered themselves Armenian citizens their whole lives, are now forced through a grueling bureaucratic process to prove it. She warns that refugees possess significant potential, which Armenia risks losing. Political analysts view this marginalization as a deliberate strategy to use refugees as political scapegoats. These narratives further deepen social divisions within Armenian society and obstruct the social cohesion vital for democratic development and consolidation. They also create a simplified 'us versus them' narrative.

*Source: YouTube: France 24 English (2026-06-04)*

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