Armenia has entered a situation in which all critical decisions are made by a single individual. As a result, the country is facing a dangerous systemic crisis. This opinion was expressed by lawyer and MP Elinar Vardanyan.
According to her, the core of the problem lies not in visible consequences, but in deeper structural causes. Ignoring those causes makes real solutions impossible.
“One person has replaced the entire state system”
Vardanyan argues that the most profound and dangerous feature of Armenia’s current reality is the complete concentration of state power in the hands of one individual.
Today, all decisive choices are made by a single person. That individual has effectively assumed the functions of the entire state apparatus and its institutions. Constitutional powers have been appropriated and centralized in one centre.
She stresses that this is not merely a flawed governance model. It is the greatest threat to statehood. Decisions made in such a framework may at any moment contradict earlier policies, rational judgment, and the country’s national, security, and strategic interests.
Constitutional violations as a foundation of governance
As an example, Vardanyan points to the authorities’ conduct in matters related to the church. She states that the executive branch, disregarding Article 6 of the Constitution — the principle of legality — interferes in areas beyond its competence.
The Constitution clearly states that state bodies may act only within the scope of their designated powers. However, she notes that both the principle of separation between church and state and the law on the self-governance of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church are being openly ignored.
According to her, the list of violations could be extended by naming numerous laws and constitutional provisions breached by the will of a single individual.
Arbitrary decisions from education to criminal prosecution
Vardanyan notes that arbitrary decision-making has long gone beyond political debate. It now affects various spheres, from education to the work of law enforcement bodies.
Decisions are made about who should be arrested and under which charges. In some cases, public judgments are voiced even before investigations begin.
Threats may be heard from the parliamentary rostrum, followed by law enforcement bodies targeting political opponents. She also highlights the unpredictability of foreign policy, where strategic directions can shift radically in a short period of time.
“The country has become a toy in one man’s hands”
According to Vardanyan, Armenia has effectively reached a point where the country’s fate depends on the daily decisions of one person. This carries unpredictable and irreversible consequences.
She recalls the example of Artsakh, warning that the same scenario could be applied to Armenia itself.
“We live with our families in a country that has become a toy in the hands of one man,” the MP stated.
Paths forward: change of power and a new civic society
Speaking about possible solutions, Vardanyan emphasized that the first necessary step is a change of power. However, this alone is insufficient.
Without the formation of a genuine, national civic society, restoring constitutional order is impossible. Civil society, she argues, must not justify government actions. It must protect the rights of different groups and sectors.
She also stressed the importance of building strong analytical centres capable of generating ideas, forecasting risks, and proposing effective solutions.
Only through this path, Vardanyan concludes, can constitutional order be restored and the country’s normal development ensured.