Is This Not the Person You Brought? Pashinyan Criticized Papikyan, Unhappy with Rally Outcome

On March 1, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reportedly was not satisfied with the real outcome of the rally he had called. While the ruling team tried to portray the rally as a success, Pashinyan confronted the reality that, even with the use of administrative resources and by bringing individuals registered in psychiatric facilities, they could not secure ‘broad popular support.’

It was reported to him that only 18,000 to 20,000 people attended the rally, despite orders to fill the square with at least 40,000 to 50,000 attendees.

The primary person responsible for the gathering was the Minister of Territorial Administration, Suren Papikyan, who, according to our information, was criticized by Pashinyan on the day of the rally upon noticing Papikyan's self-satisfied demeanor. Pashinyan reportedly asked him, “Why are you so happy about the rally you organized? Is this not the person you brought?”