Armenia’s new biometric passport design has triggered criticism after it was revealed that Khor Virap is deliberately framed to exclude Mount Ararat, a defining national symbol.

The draft was presented during a meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and the interior minister, with officials from Pashinyan’s government describing the design as a reflection of Armenian identity and statehood.

However, the decision to include Khor Virap while intentionally removing Mount Ararat from the composition has become the central point of backlash, with critics questioning the message embedded in a state-issued document.

The design incorporates historical and cultural elements, including the Armenian alphabet, early statehood references, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and major landmarks such as Aragats, Sevan, and Garni. Despite this broad representation, Mount Ararat is notably excluded.

The move follows earlier decisions by Pashinyan’s government regarding the mountain’s place in official symbolism. In 2025, Mount Ararat was removed from passport border stamps, a change that sparked public backlash. Pashinyan defended the decision as part of a sovereignty-driven approach, while critics saw it as a departure from longstanding national imagery.

In that context, the exclusion of Mount Ararat from the new passport design stands as the latest step in Pashinyan’s government’s ongoing redefinition of Armenian state symbolism.