Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

FACTS AND COMMENTS

Year 2025, Issue: 52, 13 - 64, 09.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.54842/ras.1829677

Abstract

This article covers the period of June-November 2025 on the internal developments in Armenia, foreign dynamics shaping its international relations, the process of signing the peace agreement with Azerbaijan and the bilateral relations of Türkiye and Armenia in the light of the process of normalization of their relations. Ahead of the elections to be held in June 2026, internal tensions have surged in Armenia, and the accusations and adversity of the opposition towards Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have intensified. The opposition has been led mainly by the Apostolic Church with the backing of Russia and the Diaspora, with the most prominent support coming from the Dashnak party’s US-based lobby organization ANCA. As Pashinyan personally targeted the head of the Church and its hierarchy, Catholicos Karekin II has in return openly taken political initiative and introduced religion as a major force in politics. Rapid and positive developments have taken place in the peace agreement negotiations process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Following the highlevel talks in Abu Dhabi between the parties (one on one and with delegations), their first ever direct talks without an intermediary, the two sides met in Washington D.C. on 8 August with the participation of the US President, where it was pompously declared that the parties had agreed on the peace agenda. One of the two impediments to concluding the peace agreement, the Zangezur corridor issue, was overcome with the proposed formation of “TRIPP”. As regards the change of Armenia’s constitution, Pashinyan has promised to look into the matter after the elections. In foreign relations, the adopted “balanced and balancing” as well as “multivector” foreign policy lines have provided the justification to expand ties in an extremely broad spectrum from the US to China, EU to SCO, to India, Russia, and Iran, conjuring the perception that foreign relations are being put on auction. Noteworthy, substantial developments have taken place in Türkiye-Armenia relations as well. Upon the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pashinyan paid an official visit to Türkiye, the first of its kind. Special representatives of the normalization process met for the first time, in their sixth meeting, without an intermediary and in a capital city of their own, resulting in the Turkish delegation crossing the closed border to reach Yerevan. The two sides acknowledged that they are ready to fully implement the normalization of their relations. It is understood that the timing is geared with the signing of the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

References

  • “10th Armenia-Russia Interregional Cooperation Forum Held in Yerevan”, ArmenPress, 6 June 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1221562.
  • “‘A Celebration of Life and Peace’: Pashinyan Applauds Yerevan’s 2807th Anniversary Events”, ArmenPress, 13 October 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1231947.
  • “ANCA Condemns Dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group; Urges U.S. Leadership to Hold Azerbaijan Accountable”, Armenian National Committee of America, 1 September 2025, https://anca.org/press-release/anca-condemns-dissolution-of-osce-minsk-group-urges-u-sleadership- to-hold-azerbaijan-accountable/.
  • “Aram I Calls for Ending “Unhealthy Atmosphere” in Armenia”, ArmenPress, 9 July 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1224382.
  • “Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan Sentenced to Two Years in Prison”, ArmenPress, 3 October 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1231279.
  • “ARF Eastern Region Condemns August 8 Agreements as Historic Betrayal”, 10 August 2025, Armenian Weekly, https://armenianweekly.com/2025/08/10/arf-eastern-region-condemnsaugust- 8-agreements-as-historic-betrayal/.
  • “ARF of Armenia Statement on 35th Anniversary of Declaration of Independence”, Asbarez, 25 August 2025, https://asbarez.com/arf-of-armenia-statement-on-35th-anniversary-ofdeclaration- of-independence/.
  • “Armenia “Deeply Disappointed” with “Distorted” Formulations in OIC Declaration - Foreign Ministry”, ArmenPress, 23 June 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1223096.
  • “Armenia and US Discuss Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Nuclear Energy and Mining”, Arka News, 5 June 2025, https://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenia-and-us-discusscooperation- in-the-field-of-peaceful-nuclear-energy-and-mining/.
  • “Armenia Has Not Gained Any Dividends from International Recognition of Armenian Genocide, Pashinyan Says”, Asbarez, 28 August 2025, https://asbarez.com/armeniahas- not-gained-any-dividends-from-international-recognition-of-armenian-genocidepashinyan- says/.
  • “Armenia Reassures Visiting Iran Leader it Will Control Azerbaijan Corridor”, Aljazeera, 19 August 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/19/armenia-reassures-visiting-iranleader- it-will-control-azerbaijan-corridor.
  • “Armenia’s Vision of Unblocking Anchored on Sovereignty and National Jurisdiction: Foreign Ministry Responds to Erdogan”, ArmenPress, 5 July 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/ article/1224157. “Armenian Church Slams Pashinian’s ‘Shameful Campaign’”, Azatutyun Radiokayan, 2 June 2025, https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33432106.html. “Armenian Official Sees Progress in Normalization with Türkiye”, ArmenPress, 13 June 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1222217.

OLAYLAR VE YORUMLAR

Year 2025, Issue: 52, 13 - 64, 09.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.54842/ras.1829677

Abstract

Bu incelemede Haziran-Kasım 2025 tarihleri döneminde Ermenistan’daki iç gelişmeler, dış ilişkiler, Azerbaycan ile barış anlaşması imzalanması süreci ile devam eden normalleşme sürecinin ışığında Türkiye-Ermenistan arasındaki ilişkiler ele alınmaktadır. Ermenistan’da Haziran 2026’da yapılması öngörülen seçimlerin öncesinde iç politikada gerginlik artmış, muhalefetin Başbakan Nikol Paşinyan ve yönetimine yönelik suçlamaları ve karşıtlığı şiddetlenmiştir. Muhalefetin öncülüğünü Diasporanın (özellikle de Taşnak partisinin ABD merkezli lobi örgütü ANCA’nın) ve Rusya’nın desteğini alan Apostolik Kilise üstlenmiş, Paşinyan’ın Kilisenin üst düzey hiyerarşisini hedef alması sonucu Katolikos Karekin II öncülüğünde din, siyasette önemli bir unsur olarak ön plana çıkmıştır. Azerbaycan ile barış anlaşması sürecinde hızlı ve olumlu gelişmeler yaşanmıştır. Tarafların bir aracı olmadan Abu Dabi’de ilk kez üst düzey ikili ve heyetler arası doğrudan görüşmelerinin ardından, 8 Ağustos’ta Vaşington’da ABD Başkanının katılımıyla yaptıkları görüşme sonrası iddialı bir şekilde barış penceresinin açıldığı ilan edilmiştir. Anlaşmanın önündeki iki engelden biri olan Zengezur koridoru “TRIPP” adı ile giderilmiş, Ermenistan’da anayasa değişikliği konusunda ise Paşinyan seçimlerden sonra bu konuda adım atacağı vadinde bulunmuştur. Dış ilişkilerde benimsenen “dengeli ve dengeleyici” ve “çok vektörlü” dış politika anlayışı ABD’den Çin’e, AB’den, ŞİÖ’ye Rusya’dan İran’a, Hindistan’a çok geniş bir yelpazeye yayılmış, adeta dış bağlantıların açık artırmaya çıkarıldığı görüntüsünü vermiştir. Türkiye-Ermenistan ilişkilerinde de dikkat çekici gelişmeler, ileri adımlar kaydedilmiştir. Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ın daveti üzerine Paşinyan’ın Türkiye’ye yaptığı resmi ziyaret ile bir ilk yaşanmıştır. Normalleşme süreci özel temsilcileri de ilk kez ikili görüşmelerini aracısız ve kendi başkentlerinden birinde, Erivan’da yapmış, Türk heyeti kapalı olan kara sınırından geçiş yapmıştır. Tarafların ilişkilerin tam normalleşmeyi sağlamaya hazır oldukları kaydedilmiş, zamanlamanın Ermenistan-Azerbaycan barış anlaşmasının imzalanması ile bağlantılı olduğu anlaşılmıştır.

References

  • “10th Armenia-Russia Interregional Cooperation Forum Held in Yerevan”, ArmenPress, 6 June 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1221562.
  • “‘A Celebration of Life and Peace’: Pashinyan Applauds Yerevan’s 2807th Anniversary Events”, ArmenPress, 13 October 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1231947.
  • “ANCA Condemns Dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group; Urges U.S. Leadership to Hold Azerbaijan Accountable”, Armenian National Committee of America, 1 September 2025, https://anca.org/press-release/anca-condemns-dissolution-of-osce-minsk-group-urges-u-sleadership- to-hold-azerbaijan-accountable/.
  • “Aram I Calls for Ending “Unhealthy Atmosphere” in Armenia”, ArmenPress, 9 July 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1224382.
  • “Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan Sentenced to Two Years in Prison”, ArmenPress, 3 October 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1231279.
  • “ARF Eastern Region Condemns August 8 Agreements as Historic Betrayal”, 10 August 2025, Armenian Weekly, https://armenianweekly.com/2025/08/10/arf-eastern-region-condemnsaugust- 8-agreements-as-historic-betrayal/.
  • “ARF of Armenia Statement on 35th Anniversary of Declaration of Independence”, Asbarez, 25 August 2025, https://asbarez.com/arf-of-armenia-statement-on-35th-anniversary-ofdeclaration- of-independence/.
  • “Armenia “Deeply Disappointed” with “Distorted” Formulations in OIC Declaration - Foreign Ministry”, ArmenPress, 23 June 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1223096.
  • “Armenia and US Discuss Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Nuclear Energy and Mining”, Arka News, 5 June 2025, https://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenia-and-us-discusscooperation- in-the-field-of-peaceful-nuclear-energy-and-mining/.
  • “Armenia Has Not Gained Any Dividends from International Recognition of Armenian Genocide, Pashinyan Says”, Asbarez, 28 August 2025, https://asbarez.com/armeniahas- not-gained-any-dividends-from-international-recognition-of-armenian-genocidepashinyan- says/.
  • “Armenia Reassures Visiting Iran Leader it Will Control Azerbaijan Corridor”, Aljazeera, 19 August 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/19/armenia-reassures-visiting-iranleader- it-will-control-azerbaijan-corridor.
  • “Armenia’s Vision of Unblocking Anchored on Sovereignty and National Jurisdiction: Foreign Ministry Responds to Erdogan”, ArmenPress, 5 July 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/ article/1224157. “Armenian Church Slams Pashinian’s ‘Shameful Campaign’”, Azatutyun Radiokayan, 2 June 2025, https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33432106.html. “Armenian Official Sees Progress in Normalization with Türkiye”, ArmenPress, 13 June 2025, https://armenpress.am/en/article/1222217.
There are 12 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Early Modern Ottoman History
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Alev Kılıç 0000-0001-5180-2896

Early Pub Date December 9, 2025
Publication Date December 9, 2025
Submission Date November 25, 2025
Acceptance Date November 27, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Issue: 52

Cite

Chicago Kılıç, Alev. “FACTS AND COMMENTS”. Review of Armenian Studies, no. 52 (December 2025): 13-64. https://doi.org/10.54842/ras.1829677.