Armenian Lawmaker Addresses Lusine Badalyan's Recent Statement

“The people living in Artsakh do not understand what is happening here. The news about blocking opposition lawmakers from Armenia from entering Artsakh spread strangely and vaguely here. We still do not understand who prevented them from entering Artsakh, or why they were not allowed. One thing, however, is clear: this is yet another psychological pressure on the people living in Artsakh, to make them realize that their connection with Mother Armenia can be cut off at any moment,” said Metakse Hakobyan, a member of the opposition 'Justice' alliance in the Artsakh National Assembly, in an interview with Factinfo news outlet.

She added, “It is clear that such behavior will further escalate the situation of the people in Artsakh, who are already experiencing overwhelming uncertainty, making them think that they are completely isolated and cut off from Armenia. It turns out that the ruling faction from Armenia does not visit Artsakh, while a whole two factions of the opposition want to visit, but they are also being blocked. So what it means is that we are now completely alone here… Is this yet another psychological pressure on the people of Artsakh? Are they instilling fear of isolation in the people?”

She also addressed the recent statement made by Armenian National Assembly lawmaker Lusine Badalyan, who said she is ready to personally plant the Artsakh flag at the summit of Everest if she knows that it will help solve all the issues.

“If the lawmaker at the Assembly, who was partying at the ‘Armenia’ hotel in Artsakh during the 44-day war and was busy taking selfies around Stepanakert, has forgotten, then I can remind her that she is one of those people. Now she stands at the podium of the National Assembly criticizing the action for raising the Artsakh flag, or allowing herself to express thoughts regarding the opposition faction's visit to Artsakh... In any case, the opposition from Armenia certainly did not come to Artsakh just to take pictures,” said the lawmaker.

In concluding the conversation, Metakse Hakobyan noted that in order for the issue to be resolved and not repeated, it is essential to first understand where the order to block the entry of opposition lawmakers into Artsakh came from, and who issued it. It should be noted that yesterday, opposition lawmakers were not allowed to enter Artsakh. The lawmakers from Armenia met with their counterparts from Artsakh near the Agavno checkpoint.