Pro-government MP slammed for 'reckless' remarks about Artsakh Armenians

The Artsakh Information Center has strongly criticized Armenian pro-government MP Khachatur Sukiasyan’s latest “reckless” statements on the Artsakh Armenians.

In an interview on Thursday, Sukiasyan, who represents the ruling Civil Contract party, claimed that the Artsakh people “during Azerbaijan’s September 2023 military offensive.

“The pro-government deputy not only expressed a distorted view of the Artsakh people's resistance, but also defended earlier remarks by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, who had stated that 'the Artsakh people should have stayed and fought',” the Artsakh InfoCenter said in a statement on Friday.

The Artsakh authorities condemned Sukiasyan’s comments as a form of psychological harassment targeting servicemen, volunteers and the families of those who were killed, went missing or were taken captive during the hostilities.

“We are compelled to reiterate that during Azerbaijan’s military assault on Artsakh on 19 September 2023, 265 servicemen and 21 civilians were killed, while 14 persons remain missing,” the statement read.