Opposition leader says secret deal between Pashinyan and Aliyev possible

At a press briefing on Friday, Hayk Mamijanyan, the leader of the opposition Pativ Unem faction, voiced serious concerns about the security situation around Armenia and sharply criticized the government’s handling of escalating tensions with Azerbaijan.

"Everyone is speaking about the risk of escalation – everyone except Armenian officials," Mamijanyan said. He recalled the situation in 2018, when reports emerged about Azerbaijani troop buildups near the Armenian border. "Back then, we were told it was disinformation, just an excuse to stifle protests. Two months later, we suffered territorial losses in areas adjacent to Ararat Province. If the Defense Ministry dares to deny this now, they will regret it, believe me."

Mamijanyan accused the Armenian authorities of trying to "whitewash" Azerbaijan’s actions on the international stage.

"Statements from various global powers and international organizations make it clear how dangerous the situation around Armenia has become both from a regional and geopolitical standpoint," the opposition leader said.

When asked whether he believed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan might have struck a backroom deal with Azerbaijan possibly to provoke border tensions for political gain, Mamijanyan responded:

"If you're asking whether I rule out the possibility that Pashinyan is coordinating with Azerbaijan to orchestrate escalations in order to intimidate the Armenian people, I absolutely do not rule it out. This fits perfectly with his approach. He has already once asked Aliyev to ease border tensions to resolve domestic political issues. I believe that’s when promises were made."

Mamijanyan suggested that if Pashinyan requested something from Aliyev in 2018 and received it, it’s likely he offered something in return.

“I don’t exclude any scenario that Pashinyan might agree to,” he stressed. “He has fulfilled every Azerbaijani demand so far and the demands continue. Azerbaijan’s appetite will not be satisfied any time soon.”