Pashinyan Told Aliyev, 'Do You Want Me to Be Killed?' Bayramov

The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov addressed the communications between Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan in an interview with İTV. According to Bayramov, their first meeting took place in September 2018 in Dushanbe. 'At that time, the president stated that the issue needed to be resolved and that Azerbaijani lands should be liberated. Pashinyan's position was quite constructive at the time; he said, 'I have just come to power and I will take the necessary steps to resolve the conflict,' – Bayramov said.

He noted that in Dushanbe, Aliyev instructed the defense department to ensure peace and stability in all directions. An agreement was reached with Pashinyan to establish a direct communication line, which was intended for operational actions in tense situations.

Bayramov mentioned that the second meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan took place in Vienna in 2019 under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group. He stated that during that meeting, Pashinyan completely changed his position, declaring that he could not and was not ready to resolve the issue. 'He even presented an interesting argument: 'If I do this, I will be killed. Do you want me to be killed?' The president replied, 'I do not want anyone's death, but that cannot justify the continued occupation of Azerbaijani lands,' – stated Bayramov.