VIDEO: Azerbaijan Escalates Tensions Towards New Provocation, Says Pashinyan

Azerbaijan's unpunished violations of internationally agreed-upon arrangements encourage it to pursue new provocations, stated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a government meeting today, March 23.

 "Such a monstrous provocation took place yesterday when the Azerbaijani side killed Armenian Armed Forces serviceman Arshak Sargsyan with targeted sniper fire. While extending my condolences to the family and relatives of the slain serviceman, I draw the attention of the international community to the obvious fact that Azerbaijan is escalating the situation towards a new escalation. This is further substantiated by the absurd rhetoric of the so-called 'Western Azerbaijan' being propagated at the state level in Azerbaijan, which is a blatant act of aggression against Armenian territory. Overall, this rhetoric again demonstrates that our government has correctly interpreted Azerbaijan's messages from the very beginning, and this ongoing political discourse that questions the right to existence of Armenia is the reason for the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he said.

Pashinyan added that Azerbaijan has now concocted new accusations against Armenia, claiming that Armenia is a mono-ethnic country and that there are supposedly no national minorities in Armenia.  "First, such formulations represent a gross interference in Armenia's internal affairs, and in Armenia, there are not only national minorities but they also have mandates in the National Assembly, which is guaranteed by the Constitution. If this is not interference in the internal affairs of a country, then let's note that in Azerbaijan, the persecution of representatives of the press, opposition, and national minorities is systemic in nature. The international press is flooded with materials about the murders and imprisonments of leaders protecting the interests of national minorities in Azerbaijan. In many cases, eyewitnesses, tortured and persecuted activists, or family members of slain activists recount such incidents. Azerbaijan could perhaps show goodwill and establish parliamentary quotas for national minorities in the Milli Mejlis and guarantee this in the Constitution," said the Prime Minister.