Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, presenting his government’s 2026-2031 program to the new parliament today, announced that the upcoming new constitution will exclude any reference to the 1990 Declaration of Independence to avoid conflict, focusing instead on a peace agenda chosen by the public. 

Azerbaijan insists that Armenia change its constitution as a non-negotiable precondition for signing a final peace treaty. Baku argues that Armenia's current constitution harbors latent territorial claims against Azerbaijan by referencing its 1990 Declaration of Independence, which historically mentioned the reunification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.

Pashinyan argued that including a reference to the Declaration of Independence in the new constitution would mean continuing the Karabakh movement and returning to the logic of conflict.

“We cannot do this, especially after the 2026 elections, in which our people voted for peace,” Pashinyan said today.

Critics within Armenia argue that bowing to Baku's explicit public demand sets a dangerous precedent of unilateral concession. Furthermore, because changing the constitution requires a public referendum, it remains a high-risk political gamble given the potential for voters to reject it, which could completely derail the peace process.

While Pashinyan has advanced discussions around adopting an entirely new constitution, his administration insists it is driven by domestic judicial reforms rather than foreign coercion.

Pashinyan and his government continue to push for a new constitution—arguing it will establish a "Fourth Republic" and fix judicial gaps—while maintaining that the process is a domestic priority rather than a concession to outside pressure.  

Armenia has not set a specific final date to adopt a new constitution. Pashinyan's administration plans to put a new draft through a public discussion and eventually a nationwide referendum, but the timeline remains uncertain after the ruling party did not secure a constitutional majority in the June 2026 parliamentary elections.

Pashinyan also formally declared the establishment of Armenia's "Fourth Republic," a new political era built around a "logic of peace" rather than conflict.

It follows the country's June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections and is built on the doctrine of "Real Armenia," shifting the nation's core focus from historical conflict to regional peace and sovereign development.

Pashinyan argues that the "Third Republic" (est. 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union) was built from day one on a trap of conflict, regional confrontation, and the pursuit of historical justice.