Ex-ombudsman: Pashinyan’s team using ‘peace’ propaganda to stay in power

The leaders of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party has transformed the “peace” propaganda into a mechanism to cling to power and secure their positions, undermining the country’s foundations and diminishing the people’s resilience, claims former Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, who currently runs the Tatoyan Foundation for Law and Justice.

“It is a blatant mockery to promote peace while the Azerbaijani president declares that 300,000 Azerbaijanis have already requested the Armenian prime minister to facilitate their “return to their homeland”,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

“A non-existent issue has now been put on the agenda. Using the false “Western Azerbaijan” narrative, Baku insists on “security guarantees” for 300,000 Azerbaijanis, including the deployment of third-party armed forces on Armenia’s sovereign territory.

“This is evidently a plan to seize Armenia under the guise of a humanitarian initiative, with disastrous impacts on Armenia’s humanitarian situation.

“It is equally clear that the Azerbaijani authorities plan to include agents of their special services and Armenophobes among these so-called citizens, who posed as “eco-activists” during the blockade of Artsakh. At the same time, Baku is deepening hostility rather than promoting peace.

“Meaanwhile, the head of Armenia’s government and other senior officials discuss the withdrawal of international lawsuits against Azerbaijan, blatantly violating the national interests of the country and the people. It would allow the Azerbaijani authorities to whitewash the crimes they have committed against the Armenian people and to pave the way for more crimes.

“Armenia’s security and territorial integrity cannot be sacrificed in pursuit of an illusory peace merely to ensure that the Civil Contract leaders remain in power and secure their positions. Peace is an absolute value, but lasting peace can only be achieved by strengthening the country, defending our national interests and rights, and preserving our dignity through effective use of diplomatic and international mechanisms,” reads the statement.