Opposition MP slams government's Artsakh policy as former leaders speak in Baku court

Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan has accused the Armenian government of undermining national interests by recognizing Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as part of Azerbaijan, while commending former Artsakh leaders detained in Baku for defending the Armenian position in court.

In a social media post on Saturday, Abrahamyan, the secretary of the Pativ Unem faction, said officials in Yerevan were “distorting history” by publicly declaring Artsakh to be Azerbaijani territory, even as Armenians imprisoned in Azerbaijan face pressure and threats but continue to defend the dignity and interests of the Armenian people.

“It's astonishing that Armenian officials declare Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, while a man imprisoned in Baku tells an Azerbaijani court that there was nothing criminal about the Karabakh movement or statehood building,” Abrahamyan wrote.

He was referring to former Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan, one of Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan following its 2023 military takeover of Artsakh. According to Abrahamyan, Sahakyan told the court that he had participated in the Karabakh movement, including the 1992 liberation of Shushi, and firmly denied any wrongdoing.

Abrahamyan also cited Levon Mnatsakanyan, a former Artsakh military commander, noting that Mnatsakanyan rejected allegations of mercenary involvement in the conflict and framed the fighting as a struggle by Armenians to defend their rights and lives.