The Varieties of Democracy Institute has published its democracy report for 2022, and a very important record has been made in it for Armenia. For the first time in the history of our country, Armenia is not defined by the term "electoral authoritarian," but by "electoral democracy." Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting of the government of Armenia.

"This, in fact, means that there has been a change in the classification of the Republic of Armenia—in terms of democracy. (…). The essence of this new characteristic is the following that the authorities are formed by elections; that is, the election is not a tool for reproducing the authorities, but a tool for the formation of the authorities.

In fact, we can record that, also with the 2021 snap elections, Armenia entered the ‘top league’ of democratic countries. Of course, this does not mean that democracy in our country is perfect or flawless," Pashinyan stated.

He assured that democracy is a priority for them, and the authorities are committed to establishing and developing democratic institutions in Armenia.

"We have to try to get higher places in that ‘top league’ every year. Second, we must be able to capitalize on these indicators to serve Armenia's agenda issue—from the economy to security.

In the meantime, we have seen examples when potential investors in the country, the circles with a variety of partnership agenda issues pay very close attention to such reports. That is, they do not do their own research on a country every time. If they have to make a decision on carrying out activities or not carrying out activities in a country, first of all they get acquainted with such reports and draw their own conclusions from their content," the Armenian premier emphasized.