Opposition MP slams Foreign Ministry for Artsakh comments

Ishkhan Saghatelyan, the ARF Armenia leader and an MP from the opposition Pativ Unem faction, has lambasted the “anti-Armenian” statement by the Armenian Foreign Ministry regarding the Artsakh issue.

In a statement on Friday, the Foreign Ministry claimed that Armenia had consistently worked to ensure the rights and security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, including through international mechanisms. "After the forced displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and the decree on its dissolution, the issue was removed from the agenda of the normalization process between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan," it added.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Saghatelyan criticized the ministry’s reference to the legally void document signed in September 2023.

“The anti-Armenian statement aims to publicly align with Azerbaijan’s demand to consider the Artsakh issue resolved and to absolve Nikol Pashinyan of responsibility for the surrender of Artsakh, shifting the blame onto others, including the displaced Artsakh Armenians and their legitimate representatives,” the MP wrote.

“Even Aliyev avoids citing this illegal document when claiming the issue is resolved. So, the efforts of his Armenian advocates are pathetic and futile,” he said. "History cannot be rewritten. Pashinyan’s actions and statements led to the current situation – a responsibility he cannot escape.”

“As long as the Artsakh people wish to return to their homeland, the Artsakh issue remains unresolved. Defending their rights is a duty we all share,” he added.