Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, addressing the third Armenian Democracy Forum in Yerevan today, said democracy has taken root in the country since he came to power in 2018 and boasted that elections are no longer “falsified” in the country.

He claimed that the freedom of assembly is ensured throughout the country and that the press is free to operate without government repression.

Pashinyan said there is much work to be done to ensure democracy in all spheres, especially in the local government sector, and that standards regarding the use of force by law enforcement need greater clarification.

He called for greater work to ensure the independence of the judiciary.

Pashinyan said the international community now perceives Armenia as a part of the global democracy camp.

The Russian state news agency TASS reports that Pashinyan also said he believes a referendum regarding Armenia’s membership in the European Union is inappropriate despite the European aspirations of the Armenian people.

The statement released by Pashinyan’s office regarding his remarks does not mention any such comment.

TASS quotes Pashinyan as saying if a referendum is held, people will ask if the European Union is ready to accept Armenia as a member.

He emphasized that Armenia has already demonstrated its political will for deeper EU integration at the highest levels of government.