Armenian government to decide fate of $500,000 Zayed Prize awarded to Pashinyan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has submitted a document to the Corruption Prevention Commission to register the $500,000 prize he received.

He received the money as part of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. The organizers honored Pashinyan “in recognition of his consistent efforts to promote peace”. He shared the award with the president of Azerbaijan. The total prize fund amounted to $1 million.

Under Armenian law, officials must transfer gifts worth more than 60,000 drams ($160) to the state. This rule covers gifts and souvenirs received

• during official visits, events, working trips or business travel,
• from foreign states, international organisations or other entities.

Here is what is known so far about the fate of the prize money received by Pashinyan.

Prize classified as a “gift”

The Corruption Prevention Commission has classified the cash prize as a gift received by Pashinyan in the course of his official duties.

After registration, the authorities will transfer the gift to the State Property Management Committee. A local TV channel asked what would happen to the funds.

“At present, the issue is under procedures carried out by the committee in line with the rules approved by Armenian government decree No. 956 of 20 June 2024,” the body said.

The decree states that the committee “manages gifts that have become state property”.

Later, reports said the Armenian government plans to open an extra-budgetary deposit account at the finance ministry’s treasury to manage the prize funds. The authorities intend to transfer the money to this account. They will then allocate it to cover expenditures approved by the government. Officials say this “mechanism will ensure transparency in the management of the funds.”

‘I have not yet decided how to spend the money’ — Pashinyan

During a briefing in early March, journalists asked Armenia’s prime minister whether the funds had already been transferred and whether he had decided how to spend them.

“Yes, the money has already been transferred. But I have not yet decided how to spend it. I do not rule out revising my earlier decision and plans. If that happens, I will inform you,” the prime minister said.

However, Pashinyan did not specify what decision he was referring to.

He had addressed the issue earlier in February, before the funds were transferred.

“I am considering which public purposes or needs these funds should support. Once we make a concrete decision, we will announce it,” Nikol Pashinyan said at the time.

Context

On 4 February in Abu Dhabi, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the award.

In his speech, the Armenian prime minister stressed that although the award recognizes the leaders of the two countries, it represents an achievement of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples.

“This ceremony is not only about celebrating a peace agreement, but also about Armenia and Azerbaijan confirming that the chapter of conflict is closed. Otherwise, it would make no sense for the president of Azerbaijan or for me to come here and receive this award,” Pashinyan said.

He also said the Zayed Prize symbolizes support for peace from both the Muslim and Christian worlds. According to him, it will help strengthen peace in the region.