Anna Hakobyan

Anna Hakobyan
Աննա Հակոբյան
Hakobyan in 2023
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Armenia
In role
8 May 2018 – 27 February 2026
Prime MinisterNikol Pashinyan
Preceded byLilit Karapetyan (Acting)
Succeeded byVacant
Personal details
Born (1978-02-01) 1 February 1978
Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Armenia)
SpouseNikol Pashinyan (sep. 2026)
Children4
Alma materYerevan State University
ProfessionJournalist
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Anna Vachiki Hakobyan (Armenian: Աննա Վաչիկի Հակոբյան; born 1 February 1978) is an Armenian journalist and the editor-in-chief of the Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times) newspaper.[1] From 2018 until their separation in 2026, she was the partner of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.[2][3] Unofficially, Hakobyan was regarded as the "First Lady of Armenia", a position that is reserved for the spouses of the President of Armenia.[4][5][6]

Education and career

Anna Hakobyan was born on 1 February 1978, in the Armenian SSR. She graduated from Yerevan Secondary School No. 119 in 1995. She graduated from the Yerevan State University.[7] Hakobyan graduated from the Faculty of Philology, Department of Journalism at Yerevan State University in 1999, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism.[8] After she graduated, she began working as a journalist in Armenia. She is currently the editor-in-chief of the largest newspaper in Armenia, Haykakan Zhamanak.[4] In 2025, she enrolled at Beijing Normal University, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Chinese Philosophy.[9]

2018 Velvet Revolution

Hakobyan played an active role in the 2018 Armenian Revolution, which were a series of anti-government peaceful mass protests in response to the past president's third consecutive term.[10] On 8 May 2018, Nikol Pashinyan was elected Prime Minister.[11]

Partner of the Prime Minister

Hakobyan in Moscow
Hakobyan with Nikol Pashinyan, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Moldovan President Igor Dodon.

Hakobyan became the official partner of the prime minister on 8 May 2018.

On 27 February 2026, Hakobyan announced that she had broken off her relationship with Nikol Pashinyan.[12] Pashinyan noted their marriage was not registered with the Armenian Apostolic Church and wrote "In all my difficult days for the past 30 years, she has stood by my side and been my refuge and support. I am not sure that I have been like that for her. Perhaps I have caused her more bitterness, for which I apologize."[13]

Charity work

Just after the election, Hakobyan initiated a meeting with the charitable organisations involved in pediatric cancer and specialists. During the meeting session under her leadership, a working group to improve the state of pediatric cancer in Armenia was formed. Currently, a charitable foundation, of which Hakobyan is the Honorary President, is in the formation process to support the development of pediatric oncology and hematology in Armenia.[14]

From 2018 to 2020, Hakobyan served as the Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the City of Smile Charitable Foundation.[15] In this capacity, she facilitated cooperation among pediatric oncology organizations and specialists, which led to the formation of a dedicated working group tasked with improving pediatric cancer treatment conditions in Armenia.[16]

In 2018, Hakobyan co-founded the My Step Charitable Foundation and served as the Chairwoman of its Board of Trustees until 2024, when she transitioned to the role of Executive Director. Following this transition, Lena Nazaryan was appointed as the Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees.[17]

In July 2018, she launched the Women for Peace initiative, aimed at promoting dialogue and the role of women in peacebuilding.[18]

On 7 September 2023, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, Hakobyan personally handed over 1,000+ smartphones, tablets and laptops for primary schoolchildren at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine.[19] This was Armenia’s first humanitarian aid for Ukraine since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022.[19]

Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

During the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, Hakobyan went through a week-long training program for combat.[20] She founded the Erato Detachment, which is the first all-women military unit in the Armenian Armed Forces.[20]

Foreign trips

1st International Congress for the Women of Influence

From December 14 to 16, 2018, she visited Geneva, where she participated in various community meetings. Her itinerary included a visit to the "Lamps of Memory" (Les Réverbères de la Mémoire) memorial and attendance at the graduation ceremony of the Topalian College.[21] Between September 19 and 21, 2018, she traveled to Saint Petersburg, to attend the Second Eurasian Women's Forum, titled "Women for Global Security and Sustainable Development".[21] On February 1, 2019, she visited the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, where she met with Professor Angelika Eggert to discuss prospects for cooperation in the field of pediatric oncology.[22] From July 7 to 9, 2019, she accompanied Nikol Pashinyan on an official visit to Singapore.[23]

On 25 September 2019, she accompanied Nikol Pashinyan to New York, where she attended an official reception hosted by then-President Donald Trump in honor of the heads of delegations participating in the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.[24]

On November 12, 2019, she accompanied Nikol Pashinyan to Paris, France, where she attended the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference at UNESCO headquarters. Alongside heads of state and international delegations, she participated in the thematic discussion titled "Rethinking Learning."[25] On March 4, 2020, in Washington, D.C., she attended the U.S. Department of State's International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards ceremony.[26] On May 26, 2022, she participated in the Women Political Leaders (WPL) Summit held in Davos, Switzerland.[27] On November 8, 2022, she attended the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders in Reykjavík, Iceland.

From June 17 to 18, 2025, she participated in the workshop for First Ladies and Partners titled "Soft Power and Geopolitics" in Vienna.[28] Between July 8 and 10, 2025, she attended the "Global First Ladies Academy" in New York, USA.[29] On August 31, 2025, she accompanied Nikol Pashinyan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Beijing.[30] On February 19, 2026, she met with Reverend Pannakarat, the initiator of the "Step for Peace" movement, in Fort Worth, Texas.[31]

Learning Is Trendy movement

In October 2024, Hakobyan initiated the «Learning is Trendy» movement, aimed at promoting lifelong learning and expanding access to education.[32]

Personal life

Until 2026, she was in a relationship with Nikol Pashinyan, and they have four children (Ashot, Mariam, Shushan, and Arpi).

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". Armtimes.com (in Armenian). Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan". Prime Minister. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Pashinyan confirms reunion with Anna Hakobyan". Armenpress. April 23, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "First Lady Anna Hakobyan was Received at YSU Faculty of Journalism (Video Material)". Yerevan State University. April 6, 2018. Archived from the original on June 10, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  5. ↑ "My Step Foundation founded by PM's wife". June 19, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Anna Hakobyan is NOT the First Lady of Armenia". October 18, 2018. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Nikol Pashinyan Interview". mediamax.am. January 15, 2012. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Анна". Anna Hakobyan's official website. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Anna Hakobyan to start two-year master's program in China in September". Armenia News. June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  10. ↑ "He Was a Protester a Month Ago. Now, Nikol Pashinyan Leads Armenia". The New York Times. May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  11. ↑ "ՀՀ նախագահի հրամանագրերը - Փաստաթղթեր - Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Նախագահ [պաշտոնական կայք]". www.president.am. Helix Consulting LLC. May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on May 8, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ Mahmudov, Kamil (February 27, 2026). "Anna Hakobyan announces separation from PM Pashinyan". Report.az. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  13. ↑ https://asbarez.com/pashinyan-and-spouse-announce-breakup/
  14. ↑ "Վարչապետի կինը՝ Աննա Հակոբյանը, կլինի նոր բարեգործական հիմնադրամի հոգաբարձուների խորհրդում (armenian)". Armtimes.com (in Armenian). Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Armenian PM's wife quits as chairwoman of board of trustees of City of Smile foundation". Armenpress. September 17, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  16. ↑ hovhannes (November 10, 2019). "The Annual Charity Gala Dinner of "City of Smile" Foundation Took Place". City Of Smile. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  17. ↑ "About us - MyStep". MyStep. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  18. ↑ "PM's wife starts initiative Women for Peace". www.1lurer.am. July 25, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Armenia sends Ukraine first assistance since start of war – digital devices for schools". Ukrainska Pravda. September 7, 2023. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "The Artsakh War brought about Armenia's first all-women military unit". November 16, 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  21. 1 2 "Armenian premier's spouse concludes Switzerland visit at Topalian College graduation event". Armenpress. December 17, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Arminfo: Anna Hakobyan received director of Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at the Charite Clinic". arminfo.info. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Anna Hakobyan visits Singapore National University of health system". Armenia News. 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Nikol Pashinyan, Anna Hakobyan participate in the reception given by Donald Trump". Armenpress. September 25, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Nikol Pashinyan, Anna Hakobyan attend 40th UNESCO General Conference proceedings". Armenpress. November 12, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Armenian PM's wife heads to United States, Brazil and Argentina". Armenpress. March 3, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Anna Hakobyan participated in annual "Women Political Leaders" event in Davos". www.1lurer.am. May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Anna Hakobyan attends "Soft Power and Geopolitics" workshop held in Vienna – center of international diplomacy - MyStep". MyStep. June 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Anna Hakobyan participating in annual Global First Ladies Academy in New York - MyStep". MyStep. July 10, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Anna Hakobyan participating in annual Global First Ladies Academy in New York - MyStep". MyStep. July 10, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Madame Anna Hakobyan, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, visisted Walk for Peace monks and Aloka at Hương Đạo Buddhist Temple – Dhammacetiya – The Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas". February 19, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Home - MyStep". MyStep. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
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