The speaker of the Artsakh National Assembly states the Armenian government has never been authorized by the Artsakh people to represent them or treat the territory as a bargaining tool in political negotiations.

In a statement released on Friday, Artsakh parliament speaker Ashot Danielyan criticized comments made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in recent appearances before the European Parliament and at press briefings, saying they were based on “ignorance and falsehood” about Artsakh and the Karabakh movement.

Danielyan said the remarks had angered thousands of displaced Artsakh Armenians who have not accepted the occupation of Artsakh carried out through crimes against humanity.

“The people of Artsakh have never authorized the current authorities of the Republic of Armenia to speak on their behalf or to treat Artsakh as a bargaining chip,” he said.

Danielyan also defended the historical Karabakh movement, saying attempts to portray it negatively cannot discredit the people’s “heroic struggle for freedom and peace.”

He argued that the authority of any government, including Armenia’s, is limited to its own borders and that making decisions affecting another state’s population violates fundamental principles of international law.

Danielyan questioned the characterization of recent developments as a peace process, asking why Azerbaijani troops remain on 240 square kilometers of Armenian territory and why around 150,000 displaced Armenians from Artsakh have not been able to return to their homes.

He also cited Armenian detainees held in Baku and destruction of Armenian cultural and historical heritage in Artsakh.

Danielyan said presenting a distorted version of the Karabakh movement before European lawmakers, who in recent years adopted resolutions condemning Azerbaijan’s actions and Turkey’s involvement, shows “disrespect toward that institution”.

He further criticized attempts to frame the conflict as merely a territorial dispute, saying that for decades the people of Artsakh pursued self-determination in full accordance with international law and with support from international organizations.

According to Danielyan, changing international attitudes toward the issue in recent years has been influenced not only by geopolitical developments but also by the Armenian government’s approach to Artsakh.

“The inalienable right of the Artsakh people  to self-determination, to return to their homeland, live safely and determine their own fate cannot disappear through lies and distortions,” he said.

Danielyan added that Artsakh’s elected institutions would continue to pursue “all legal means and mechanisms” to restore the violated rights of Artsakh Armenians with support from individuals and groups concerned about the issue.