“We are to demand justice.” Armenian Youth in Germany Protest as PM Pashinyan Meets German Chancellor

A group of Armenian youth and community members in Germany held a protest on Tuesday as Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Berlin for a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The demonstrators gathered in front of the Federal Chancellery to draw attention to what they describe as a growing authoritarian trend in Armenia ahead of the country’s 2026 parliamentary elections.

The protesters said that while European governments continue to view Pashinyan as a democratic leader, the reality inside Armenia “tells a different story.” Their objective, they said, was to bring these concerns directly to the attention of German officials and the broader international community.

The demonstrators also called for the release of political prisoners in Armenia, ending  the government pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church, and stopping the misuse of law enforcement bodies and the courts against political opponents. 

The opposition in Armenia says more than 60 people are currently imprisoned in the country on politically motivated charges, including four archbishops and several other clergymen.

Also, the protesters also urged Germany to raise the issue of Armenian captives still held in Azerbaijan.

Arshak Makichyan, one of the protest participants, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that Armenian youth in Germany wanted their message to be heard clearly. “The statements of Armenia’s prime minister do not represent the Armenian people and certainly do not reflect the views of most Armenians. No government has the right to silence Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh who survived atrocities,” he said, adding that European politicians must listen directly to survivors rather than relying solely on the Armenian government.

Also, Makichyan called for real action rather than superficial declarations of partnership, warning that the second Armenian genocide—referring to the Armenian ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan in 2023—has largely gone unnoticed internationally and is now being tacitly legitimized by Western powers. “We are not here to stay silent. We demand justice for Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh,” he concluded.

Protesters emphasized that their aim was not only to express dissatisfaction but also to ensure that the concerns of Armenians abroad, especially of the younger generation, are acknowledged during high-level diplomatic meetings.

Photographs and video materials were provided by voleemor