Armenian opposition MP criticizes government's security approach

Armenian opposition lawmaker Ishkhan Saghatelyan on Wednesday criticized the government’s handling of national security, arguing that current policies embolden external threats rather than deter them.

In a social media post, Saghatelyan said Azerbaijan’s 2023 attack on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) was enabled by assurances from the Armenian leadership that it would not intervene after the recognition of Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan.

“That was not peace,” Saghatelyan said. “It was permission for violence and an act of complicity.”

“We are being told to ‘kneel and remain that way so we are not struck,’” he said. “But in fact, those who are already down are the ones who are hit.”

He added that a leadership willing to defend the country would reduce, not increase, the likelihood of war by raising the cost of aggression for adversaries.

“When an adversary knows it faces a state ready to respond, it will think carefully before escalating,” Saghatelyan said.

He also cited a passage by Armenian writer Hrant Matevosyan to emphasize the importance of resilience and resistance.

Saghatelyan stated that lasting peace depends on overcoming fear.

“Real peace begins where fear ends,” he said.