page_title: Premiership of Nikol Pashinyan
section_title: Social issues
hierarchical_section_title: Premiership of Nikol Pashinyan / Domestic Policy / Social issues
caption_attribution_description: English: Prime minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and catholicos Karekin II
context_page_description: The premiership of Nikol Pashinyan began on May 8, 2018, when Nikol Pashinyan was elected in a 59-42 vote by the National Assembly of Armenia to be the 16th Prime Minister of Armenia. Following the resignation of Serj Sargsyan on April 23 due to mass protests in the country, Pashinyan was seen by the demonstrators as the best possible successor that has no ties to the previous government. His nomination was rejected by the republican majority during a vote on May 1, but was finally accepted during a second hearing a week later.
context_section_description: Relations with the Armenian Apostolic Church
  During protests against Catholicos Karekin II, Pashinyan has stated that his government will not interfere in church matters and that the state and church are separate in Armenia. He further stated that he wants the church to have dignity and a good reputation and that his government does not use the church for its political interests. At another rally, Pashinyan embraced Catholic and Evangelical Armenians and stated that Armenians should stay true to their Christian roots and reject "totalitarian sects, which deprive people of freedom and autonomy."
  LGBT rights
  Pashinyan and his government usually avoid to voice an opinion on LGBT rights in Armenia, despite his embrace of human rights, including LGBT rights. Despite this denial, his government is known for being pro-LGBT.
  Healthcare
  During Pashinyan's first year in office, the government made healthcare free for all citizens  under the age of 18.
  A nationwide scandal erupted in December 2019: Doctors and healthcare workers were taking newborn babies from their parents, either by blackmailing them or by telling them that the infant didn't survive. The babies were then smuggled out of the country and sold via an international black adoption market. The scandal involved Armenia's chief gynaecologist, several doctors and health workers, along with immigration and customs employees. Pashinyan promised to bring to justice anyone involved in this scheme.
caption: Pashinyan and Catholicos Karekin II, December 2018
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