Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan uses a humorous anecdote about Mongolia to deflect criticism over his approach to Azerbaijan.
Public Speaking Style
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pauses and grins mischievously during his speech. Public speaking is his element, and he revels in every second of his address, taking pleasure in the power he has over the audience.
He resembles a skilled stand-up comedian who knows how to manage the pace of a speech so that the joke lands at the right moment.
The Mongolia Joke
Pashinyan shares an anecdote: “Since we’re talking about maps, you know what? I was recently in Mongolia… And when I was in that Mongolia, I thought to myself: Oh my God, I hope they don’t show me some old map, claiming rights to our lands!”
The joke was well-received, with the room erupting in laughter.
Political Context
The humor was Pashinyan’s way of addressing accusations that he is betraying Armenia by seeking an agreement with Azerbaijan.
This comes after Azerbaijan’s 2023 military operation that led to the elimination of the unrecognized Republic of Mountainous Karabakh, a quasi-state inhabited by Armenians, which caused widespread trauma in Armenia.
