Ex-ombudsman warns Pashinyan against withdrawal of Armenia's lawsuits against Azerbaijan

Despite the Armenian government’s unilateral concessions to Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev has no intention of signing a peace agreement with Armenia, claims former Artsakh Human Rights Defender Artak Beglaryan.

“Aliyev seeks to deprive Armenia of its viability and continue his policy of Armenophobia without undertaking any commitments,” Beglaryan stated on Saturday.

According to him, Aliyev has already secured significant concessions, most notably Artsakh, without offering anything in return. He warned that Armenia’s leadership could meet more demand from Azerbaijan for the conclusion of a peace treaty, including the withdrawal of international lawsuits and the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group.

"Therefore, I warn the Armenian authorities, particularly Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, that if they withdraw Armenia’s international lawsuits, many Armenians, including myself, will take legal action against the Armenian government in international courts for violating our rights," Beglaryan warned.

"Moreover, we must do everything in our power to hold each official personally accountable for human rights violations carried out under the guise of ‘state policy,’ especially those documented in national and ECHR rulings.

"Yes, we need peace. But the proposed agreement cannot bring true peace or justice, as it completely disregards vital aspects of the conflict and the legitimate rights and interests of all parties. True peace cannot come at the cost of an entire people’s fundamental rights, dignity and future," he stated.