Ex-ombudsman urges escape from Armenian government’s ‘propaganda trap’

Former Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has warned of existential threats facing Armenia following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s latest remarks.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Aliyev reiterated his plans to push for a land corridor through Armenia to Nakhichevan.

“The Zangezur corridor must and will be opened. The sooner they understand it, the better,” Aliyev said, warning that Armenia should not “act as a geographical barrier between Turkey and Azerbaijan.”

Aliyev also accused Armenia of obstructing Baku’s peace aspirations, calling the country a “fascist state.” “Fascism must be destroyed. Either the Armenian leadership will eliminate it, or we will,” he added.

“The Azeri president’s interview remarks were a continuation of his previous threats and confirmed once again that the top leadership of the ruling Civil Contract party has placed Armenia under unilateral diktat from Baku,” Tatoyan said on social media on Wednesday.

“The country is facing existential threats, while Armenia’s ruling party has only helped Azerbaijan advance its aggressive ambitions.”

The former ombudsman, who currently runs the Tatoyan Foundation, accused the Civil Contract leadership of prioritizing their grip on power over the nation’s security.

“Instead of governing the country effectively, they are focused on propaganda aimed at maintaining their grip on power, which stands in direct contradiction to the Armenian people’s rights and the interests of the country,” he emphasized.

“Their prioritization of power retention is zealously undermining our nationhood and eroding the people’s resilience. The agendas pushed by a couple in the country [referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his spouse] are a key part of this propaganda. The promotion of their agendas should never be supported.

“As a result, an authoritarian rule undermining statehood is taking root in Armenia, creating serious challenges in the country’s governance, protection of human rights, rule of law, as well as in the command of the armed forces and diplomacy. We need to break free from the government’s propaganda trap in order to be able to confront the growing threats facing Armenia,” Tatoyan added.