Now They Are Presenting Ashtarak as 'Western Azerbaijan'

The former Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, raises an alarm: 'The Azerbaijani authorities need to divert attention from their other crimes, including the forced displacement of Artsakh Armenians and the seizure of Armenian territories, and legitimize them. Under this pretext, they are deepening their hostility towards Armenia and creating artificial grounds for aggression.

The Azerbaijani state television has dedicated an episode to the city of Ashtarak in Armenia, claiming it to be part of 'Western Azerbaijan' and the homeland of the Oghuz-Turkic tribes from time immemorial. Along with Ashtarak, they are also appropriating the Armenian monasteries and churches in the region, asserting that they are Turkish-Albanian monuments from the 5th century.

They allege that Armenians settled here only in 1828 following the Russo-Turkish War. In reality, this agenda is a meticulously crafted state policy. It has not only persisted but has also intensified.

This is being pursued through both internal and external propaganda. It is necessary to expose the Azerbaijani falsehoods and show that the Azerbaijani authorities have no intention of peace. Under no circumstances should they be allowed to dictate their agenda and legitimize their crimes while concurrently preparing for new offenses.'