Stickers Feature Images of Atrocities, Tatoyan Raises Alarm

The former Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, has written on his Facebook page that stickers featuring images of tortured and dismembered bodies of Armenian servicemen and civilians have been created within the Azerbaijani domain of the Telegram social network using chat bots.

"The stickers were created on September 14, 2022, but we discovered them on September 18. Immediately after their creation, they became widely available, allowing anyone to download and use them in communication. We have recorded 119 images, meaning 119 stickers, which in just 5 days have had more than 20,000 downloads. This indicates that 20,000 Azerbaijani users have downloaded the images to their Telegram accounts within just 5 days. With the help of a supporting expert, this opportunity has been closed by Telegram, but it is evident that this new tool will be used by Azerbaijani platforms to terrorize and mock the Armenian society," Tatoyan wrote.

The stickers feature images of atrocities that occurred during the 44-day war in Artsakh, as well as during the aggression against Armenia on September 13-15, 2022. Our research indicates that Azerbaijani users who downloaded these images received them with great enthusiasm, viewing the images of torture and dismemberment of Armenian servicemen and civilians as tools for everyday communication and discussions.

This criminal act is yet another proof that the policy of hatred against Armenians, long sponsored by Azerbaijani authorities, is deeply rooted in Azerbaijani society, and the calls for peace from the Azerbaijani authorities are merely a disguise for the international community, concealing their true intentions," Tatoyan stated.