Anna Hakobyan’s negative rating was significantly higher than that of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, former National Assembly deputy Samvel Farmanyan wrote on Facebook, arguing that by staging a “separation,” there is an attempt to relieve Pashinyan of the burden of Hakobyan’s unfavorable public image.

According to him, the “separation” operation may also involve other calculations and possible scenarios.

“An unsolicited hint to the opposition.

• Anna Hakobyan’s negative rating was much higher than Nikol’s. Simply put, the Armenian people dislike Anna more than Nikol. Beyond opinion polls, this was evident to the naked eye — just by traveling across Armenia or knowing our people.

On the eve of elections, by staging a ‘separation,’ there is an attempt to free Nikol from the burden of Anna’s negative rating. This is undoubtedly the main objective of the ‘separation’ operation. Moreover, the ‘separation’ will increase natural public sympathy toward Nikol, reviving the old and cheap storyline of ‘poor Nikol left alone against plundering hyenas.’

• By staging a ‘separation’ ahead of elections, the real owners of Nikol’s power are turning Anna into one of the key new sources shaping the pre-election news flow and political agenda. They will use Anna during the campaign as much as the situation requires. For the real holders of power, Nikol and Anna have always been circus actors, and the people an unconscious audience watching a series. Now, as dictated by circumstances, they are simply switching the roles of the main ‘hero-actors’ and intensifying the drama of the plot. Nothing more.

Accordingly, any future ‘revelation,’ ‘confession,’ ‘self-reflection,’ or ‘criticism’ by Anna — and Nikol’s forced reaction to it — will automatically receive far greater media coverage and generate more interest than the dull texts and repetitive repertoire of today’s opposition.

I am convinced that other calculations and possible scenarios lie beneath the ‘separation’ operation — from throwing political ‘foundations’ to law enforcement bodies to generating a new opposition pole around Anna, and so on.

If everything remains as it is, Nikol may, unfortunately, win the elections against today’s opposition. But solely and exclusively against the backdrop of the latter’s total failure, as has been the case since 2020. However, through such cheap ТV shows, he will never again regain the Armenian people’s former love and support. People love their leaders — whether in power or in opposition — and become disillusioned with them only once. There is no force in the world that can make a river change its course and flow back from its mouth to its source. The same applies to people’s love and hatred toward leaders.

It remains for the so-called opposition to understand this simplest, elementary truth.

P.S. Years ago, a wise taxi driver once said: ‘If Nikol comes and tells me good morning, I will first check whether it is already night.’”

Earlier, Prime Minister’s wife Anna Hakobyan announced the end of her marriage to Nikol Pashinyan, stating that she would leave the government residence and live in rented accommodation. She said she does not own a car or a home and would leave to the state jewelry, items received as gifts, and expensive clothing.