Former Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has strongly criticized statements made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other senior members of the ruling Civil Contract party regarding Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan.
In a social media post on Friday, March 7, Tatoyan dismissed claims that public pressure could hinder the return of the prisoners, calling such assertions “excuses for inaction.”
“Statements by the Civil Contract leadership and certain senior members that public action will prevent the return of Armenian captives and prisoners from Azerbaijan are mere justifications for doing nothing,” Tatoyan wrote.
“This is a dangerous approach. It signals to citizens that if they find themselves in trouble, the state will not protect them.”
He recalled that when his team published a 2021 report detailing the torture of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan, some senior Civil Contract members dismissed it as “fabricated.”
“When we published our report on the torture of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan in 2021, some individuals within the Civil Contract leadership called it ‘staged scenes.’”
“Such an attitude only emboldens Azerbaijani authorities and undermines efforts to secure the release of prisoners of war and hostages.”
Tatoyan urged the Armenian government to take a more active role in pressuring Baku, arguing that silence and inaction only serve Azerbaijan’s interests.
“When the Azerbaijani authorities block legal avenues and international efforts, the Armenian government has an even greater responsibility to act decisively—including in the public sphere—to increase pressure on Baku. The absence of public action does not work in our favor. We must not leave our compatriots defenseless, especially those who have fought for the Homeland.”
