Ex-ombudsman accuses Armenia's ruling party of hiding Azerbaijani incursions

Former Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Wings of Unity movement, has accused the ruling Civil Contract party of concealing fresh Azerbaijani military advances into Armenian territory.

Tatoyan said Azerbaijani forces had established new positions near Vardenis and Jermuk, including mortar and heavy weapons emplacements, communication lines, and tactical roads, placing the Sotk gold mine and nearby villages under direct threat. He alleged authorities had failed to inform the public about these developments.

In a statement following his press conference on Saturday, Tatoyan vowed to “expose one by one the false peace narratives” promoted by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party, adding that the government must step aside for his team to address Armenia’s security challenges. He also urged Pashinyan to respond personally rather than through party deputies.

Civil Contract lawmakers dismissed Tatoyan’s claims as false. One of them, Alkhas Ghazaryan, advised him to “mind your own business".