If the Marriage Has Ended, Then in What Capacity Is Anna Hakobyan Traveling to the U.S. at the Expense of the State Budget?
By a decision of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan dated June 11, Anna Hakobyan is being sent to the United States to participate in the annual event of the Global First Ladies Academy. In the document, she is presented as the “prime minister’s wife,” while the expenses of the trip are to be reimbursed from state funds.
However, this decision raises questions, taking into account Anna Hakobyan’s earlier public statements. In February 2026, she announced that her civil marriage with Nikol Pashinyan had ended, and days later she again confirmed that she was leaving the government residence and moving to a separate apartment. Later, the prime minister spoke about efforts being made to preserve the family, but no information has been presented to the public that the couple had restored their relationship or that Anna Hakobyan’s stated status had changed.
Against this background, it is unclear on what legal or official basis Anna Hakobyan is presenting herself as the “prime minister’s wife” and participating in an international event in that capacity. The question also arises as to whether a trip financed with state budget funds is consistent with the factual situation that was publicly announced.
It is noteworthy that the government decision also does not disclose the total cost of the trip. The public is therefore deprived of the opportunity to assess how much money will be spent on the planned trip to New York, accommodation, and daily allowances. If the authorities continue to regard Anna Hakobyan as the prime minister’s wife, they should clearly explain the grounds for this status. Otherwise, this trip carried out at the expense of the state budget may raise legitimate questions regarding its legality and the appropriateness of using public funds.