During a press conference on May 7, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that he had participated in events in Moscow last year to commemorate the victory in the Second World War. He also mentioned that he does not think it is necessary to participate in such events annually.

“I cannot recall such a practice where any RA or other country leader took part in the May 9 event every year. Don’t you think it would be a bit strange if the RA leader participates in the May 9 parade every year?” said Pashinyan, responding to the question about not participating in the May 9 military parade in Moscow.

“Verified” researched which of Armenia’s former leaders participated in the May military parades held in Moscow and how many times.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan (1991-1998, February)

Հայաստանի առաջին նախագահ Լևոն Տեր-Պետրոսյանը մասնակցել է 1995թ․-ի ռազմական շքերթին Կարմիր հրապարակում, որը նվիրված էր Նացիստական Գերմանիայի դեմ՝ դաշնակիցների տարած հաղթանակի 50-րդ տարելիցին։ Սա առաջին ռազմական շքերթն էր Խորհրդային միության փլուզումից հետո։ Միջոցառմանը մասնակցում էին 56 պետությունների ղեկավարներ, այդ թվում՝ ԱՄՆ, Մեծ Բրիտանիա, Ճապոնիա, Գերմանիա և այլն։ 

Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who served as the first president of Armenia, attended the 1995 military parade held in Red Square. The parade was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Allies’ victory over Nazi Germany and was the first military parade held after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was attended by 56 heads of state, including those from the USA, Great Britain, Japan, Germany, and many others.

In 1996, as reported by “Azg” daily in their May 14 issue, Levon Ter-Petrosyan celebrated Victory Day in Armenia. The President and the RF Minister for Foreign Affairs in Armenia, Yevgeny Primakov, laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

We could not find any relevant information about 1997 in public sources. However, the video footage of the military parade in Moscow and the absence of information about the president’s visit to Moscow in the Armenian press suggest that he was likely not present there.

Robert Kocharyan (1998-2008)

According to the “Azg” daily newspaper, Robert Kocharian left for the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh on May 9, 1998, to participate in the celebrations of the 6th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi.

In 1999, Robert Kocharyan attended the celebration event held at Victory Park.

In 2000, no head of state was invited to participate in the festive events in Moscow. 

On May 9, 2001, the delegation headed by Robert Kocharyan left for the USA to participate in the conference dedicated to Armenia.

Regarding 2002, we were  unable to find any data on the  president’s participation in the event.

On May 9, 2003, 2004, and 2007, Robert Kocharyan was in Stepanakert, participating in the May celebration events.

On that day in 2005, Robert Kocharyan was in Moscow to participate in the events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the 1945 victory.

In 2006, the second president did not go to Moscow; instead, he visited the Victory Park.

 

Serzh Sargsyan (2008-2018, April)

The third president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, mainly participated in the anniversary events of the liberation of Shushi in Artsakh on May 9(2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)։

In 2010 and 2015, Sargsyan attended the events dedicated to the 65th and 70th anniversaries of the victory in the Second World War in Moscow.

In 2016, Serzh Sargsyan spent May 9 in Yerevan, visiting Yrablur and the Victory Park.

Nikol Pashinyan (2018-…)

In the first years of his tenure (before the 2020 war), the current Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, spent May 9 in Artsakh, participating in celebration events ( 2018, 2019, 2020).

In 2021, the Prime Minister visited Yerablur, Victory Park, and the Gegharkunik region. In the following year, Pashinyan was in Yerevan on May 9, visiting Yerablur and Victory Park.

The only year Nikol Pashinyan attended the military parade in Moscow was 2023.

Thus, Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that the Republic of Armenia (RA) leaders did not participate in the Moscow May 9 events yearly is accurate. Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan were in Moscow on May 9 once each, Serzh Sargsyan was there twice, and Pashinyan himself attended once.