Former Armenian FM urges diplomats to condemn Pashinyan's election rhetoric

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan on Wednesday urged diplomats and international organizations accredited in Armenia to speak out against increasingly hostile political rhetoric by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ahead of the upcoming elections.

Speaking at an emergency news conference convened by members of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), Ayvazyan expressed particular concern over language directed at Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Of special concern is the rhetoric targeting our compatriots from Artsakh, which seeks to pit our brothers and sisters against the people of Armenia,” he remarked.

Ayvazyan accused Pashinyan of using insults and threats against political opponents and participants in the electoral process, calling such rhetoric “unacceptable” and incompatible with democratic standards.

“Free, fair and independent elections cannot be conducted without respect for political competitors,” he said. “There can be no genuine freedom of choice when the security of political opponents is not guaranteed.”

The former foreign minister called on foreign diplomats and international bodies to publicly reaffirm their commitment to democratic election standards established by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).

“We urge our international partners to publicly demonstrate their commitment to the principles of free and fair elections,” he said.

Ayvazyan is running for parliament on the ticket of the Prosperous Armenia Party.