March: 22, 2026
The guest of Satik Seyranyan in the “Classes” program Arman Tatoyan is the head of the “Wings of Unity” political initiative, candidate for the Prime Minister of Armenia, former human rights defender of Armenia.:
The main theses of the interview are below.
- It is just nonsense when the person who brought 3 wars, 3 defeats and 1 new genocide, the leader and responsible of the political force threatens his own people with war. Aliyev’s henchman, who wants to hold a referendum in Aliyev’s honor and change the Constitution, makes him the main factor in Armenia’s internal elections. He says that if you don’t elect me suddenly, they will make me a “padderzhka” from Azerbaijan, they will attack Armenia. And that person wants to prevent the person who is ruled by the interests of Armenia from becoming the leader of Armenia… Gather your hearts and paws and get ready to become the former.
- The world is not so limited, people, don’t be afraid, all the solutions are there. Armenia is led by a man who is ready for the most vile steps and sells fears. There is a chance to solve the occupation issues… What kind of peace are they talking about, are they bringing the war closer?
- There hasn’t been a year since 2020 where we haven’t lost territory, but it’s all kept under wraps. At the expense of deception, they advance the fake peace they preach…
- I want to say again that our people should not be disappointed. There’s no problem we can’t solve together. Look at what he is doing, he wants to bring the one who wants to destroy us, to create a factor in our country…
- Pashinyan himself definitely has Azerbaijani support, and it is obvious. Azerbaijan has its own candidate in these elections. They don’t even hide it. He says: if you don’t elect me, CP, there will be a war… In other words, you bring a boy over your state, and you also bring the person who wants to destroy your state.
- It is very important that our people definitely participate in the elections so that we get out of this vicious cycle. Now they are doing everything to make our people disgusted, disappointed, not to go to the elections, so that people have the mentality that everything is decided, let’s go to the elections, what should we do… No, we have to go to the elections, and in that case the chances of his re-election decrease significantly… Our hope, our strength, our faith are our citizens, the vote of every citizen.
- Nikol Pashinyan and his government have the biggest fears related to these elections, and they fear the people.
- In fact, it is our people who solve the issue. No outside force can decide anything here. They have memorized words, they are talking about hybrid war, this is the man, that is the man, so that people don’t go to the elections. They are horrified by the idea that our people can stand up and go to the elections. Whoever wants to be, who are you to come and decide the issues of our governance in our country?
- 2025 since november we have been doing research all the time. When we noticed changes in our area, we obtained open-source satellite images from French and Chinese satellites. Moreover, Google makes its maps based on satellite photos.
I know them, Pashinyan and CP members, well, I know what they are capable of in order to cover up their mistakes. That’s why we thoroughly and cross-checked those photos before publishing them. We recorded the construction of a new Azerbaijani position in the territory of our country and the strengthening of the positions already located in our territory. They built it in such a way that they directly targeted our security system. They built mortar infantry bases in Jermuk, they also installed solar panels in our area… And now this government, which has eroded and destroyed our security system, brought this global security issue raised by us. leveled a position. Meanwhile, as a result of the construction of that position, the road our soldiers are taking is in danger… And instead of revealing it themselves, they clean up Azerbaijan, they say it’s a lie. If Azerbaijan is preparing for peace, why is it making new fortifications, building new positions, even before the documents to be signed in Washington on August 8…
- Our people understand everything very well. Our servicemen are doing heroic service in Vardenis, the people who live there are heroes. Don’t suddenly try to impose on them.
- If there is no security, there will be no sovereignty, independence, economy, nothing will develop… Do you remember that they were building a factory in Yeraskh, what happened? They fired several times from Azerbaijan, they had to move that factory to another area…
To remind: these authorities still in 2023. in May-June, they published photos and videos announcing that a large Armenian-American metallurgical plant with an investment of 70 million USD is being built in Yeraskh. Former Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan announced that the workshop is a building with a height of 30 m and an area of 16,500 square meters, where 180,000 tons of products will be produced annually. “200 people are already working, after launch, 1000 will work,” wrote Kerobyan. Already in December, they had to move the Armenian-American metal smelting factory, on which the American flag was also installed, to the village of Ararat. The decision was taken at the government meeting, because for months the factory being built in the border village of Yeraskh was targeted by the armed forces of Azerbaijan, the works of the factory were paralyzed for a long time. Moreover, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Azerbaijan announced that this project affects the environmental security of the region and can pollute the waters of Arax. A few days after that announcement, Azerbaijan started shooting at the factory, as a result of which two foreigners working on the construction of the factory were wounded. Diplomats accredited in Armenia even visited the construction site to see what happened on the spot. Back then, the people of Yerakht were telling that the factory was targeted by the enemy from the very first days of the construction.
“When a person was inside, there was a shot. there were people in the area, they were hitting, there was equipment, they were hitting,” they told the journalists.
In the hope of restraining Azerbaijan, an American flag was also placed on the territory of the factory, emphasizing the presence of American capital there, but that did not help either. Regular targeting of construction worksm:inthe, eventually led to the cessation of work.
- See in the video and photos: 2025. as of July 31, that position does not exist, in the photos of August 19, the Azerbaijani position is already fully equipped. They are talking about what happened in such a way that: podumaesh, it’s another 70 meters, it’s not a big deal… But isn’t this an obligation to take the scissors and cut it? Minister of Defense, aren’t you ashamed, you say it’s a lie? You are the Minister of Defense, either you do not understand the situation, or you will answer to all of us: why did you allow the invasions and hide them from the people?
Their hope is that we will talk and forget about it. It won’t be like that. Our boys fought and shed blood for every meter. You cannot separate security from a person, because apart from him, even that one meter is the Motherland, they are the grasslands, the pastures of our citizens… Azerbaijanis brought, built their positions 6 km away from our villages. Instead of telling Azerbaijan what are you doing, they say, well, they are low, they are not visible…
As a result of Nikol Pashinyan being Aliyev’s henchman, our soldiers are under direct Azerbaijani danger due to the position they have built in our territory. If you are the head of the country, don’t you stop and say: Azerbaijan, how are you bringing it, endangering the lives of my soldiers, building a position under my nose?
- Until 2025 On July 31, there was no road between two Azerbaijani positions in our territory, on August 15 there was already. They improve their communications.
- Azerbaijan shows by its actions that it is not going to leave our territory, and it is a lie that they will leave our occupied territories with the demarcation commission.
- Azerbaijan’s military budget for 2024-25 significantly raised. Question: Under these conditions, is this country, with such policies and such rhetoric, preparing for peace? Of course not.
- Azerbaijanis have built special hiding places in our area, which are called kapaniers. They can be used for various purposes: to store tanks, vehicles, personnel, large-caliber weapons and use them if necessary. Azerbaijan, which is preparing for long-term peace with Armenia, is building such hideouts in our territory…
To remind, in response to the facts presented by Arman Tatoyan, the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense released a video, in which it was said:
“The connection of Google Earth space photos with reality has deviations, and the above boundary line has no legal basis. The RA Armed Forces General Directorate is guided by topographical maps of the USSR of 1975, which have legal force and were approved by the head of the Transcaucasus territorial inspection of the State Geodetic Control.
The position of Azerbaijan does not cross the state border and is located in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.
There are concerns that the said location may pose a threat to the Sotk mine, Kut settlement and surrounding areas. It should be noted that the distance from the mentioned location to the Sotki mine is about 4 km, and the distance to the Kut settlement is 6.4 km. Furthermore, there is no visibility between the settlement of Kut and the indicated position because of the presence of Mount Qatar.”
Suren Papikyan evaded, putting the burden of answering on the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense, in the event that at least he or the head of the General Staff should have given an answer.
- As soon as you speak with facts, this government immediately falls into hysteria, gets angry, starts insulting… because it has nothing to say, the lie is exposed.
- What 1975! map. They tell you they have come, under the noses of your people, they are making fortifications in your territory, building a road, setting up positions, you say a map of 1975. Is this the behavior of the head of the country?
- We should not forget that Vardenis is one of the most important strategic communities, and in Azerbaijan, even by a decree, it was forbidden to call Vardenis by its Armenian name, but exclusively by the Azerbaijani name Basargechar.
- Azerbaijan is waiting for a suitable geopolitical situation, so that if necessary, they can resort to concrete actions. This power of war, the power of negative identity is
- Due to the Azerbaijani invasion, agriculture is disrupted, the economy, animal husbandry is paralyzed. 2021 people were forced to mass slaughter animals in different places because they could not use their grasslands.
- I will not allow the issues of the occupation of Armenia to be left out of attention. I will do my best to keep them on international agendas, because these issues are not on any agenda today.
- Azerbaijan gives you 2 canisters of gasoline and cleans up with your hands in front of the international community. Then, when Azerbaijan continues its aggressive policy, and you go and protest, they will say: what do you want from that humanist state…
The Artsakh scenario is repeating itself. We need to understand the depth of Azerbaijani politics. It is an impression that we are a savage nation, and Azerbaijanis are peace-loving. You go, you clear yourself before the world, but you forget the crimes he committed: ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, genocidal activities, occupation of Armenian territories, missing servicemen, prisoners on international agendas… And all this for 2 canisters of gasoline, 2 buckets of wheat.
These waste American mediation. Instead of working with America, they make it so that America forces Azerbaijan to ratify the Convention on Persons Displaced by Violence, so that we can advance the issues of our missing persons.…
- We propose the full and specific strengthening of our army and we have a sequence of concrete steps for this.
- As soon as this government hears the word “Artsakh”, it begins to scare the people with war, and this is the person who said: “Artsakh is Armenia, and that’s it.”
- Artsakh is part of my Armenian identity. The right of Artsakh citizens has two components: a dignified life in Armenia, and a dignified and safe return of Artsakh citizens. We will immediately cancel the decision by which Artsakh residents with passport code 007 were considered non-Armenian citizens. I did not invent the right of return, it is an international obligation. There is a decision of the UN Court of Justice, according to which Azerbaijan is obliged to ensure the dignified return of Artsakh citizens. This was also announced by the US State Department, Switzerland and Canada. It would be wrong to say that the return tomorrow is realistic, but this should be one of the important directions of our policy. You have to work. return is possible. And it is not a provocation, it is a right.
- The topic of “Western Azerbaijan” is a topic nurtured and cultivated by the political authorities of Armenia, with which they frighten our society. Azerbaijan will not abandon that plan, which has no international basis, but their way to come here is closed by all international channels.
- I directly say to the President of Azerbaijan, are you so sure that we are criminals, find a country, find a form, let’s go to the International Criminal Court, you file a case against us, we will file a case against you, let’s see who will win.
- For me, the peace treaty is TRIPP, because firstly, Azerbaijan will not sign the signed peace treaty, and Aliyev has declared that there is no international law for him. Therefore, if there is no such right, what kind of contract is it? The mediating mission of a country like the USA is extremely important here, and you just have to be able to use it to your advantage, not waste it.
- The interest of Armenia should be at the center of foreign policy, we should act not against someone, but for Armenia.
- There is a red line for us. Armenia’s sovereignty and independence are not subject to negotiation. Armenian customs officers and border guards should be standing at our checkpoints:
- Nikol Pashinyan feeds like a vampire on the mistakes of the retired presidents. There have been problems, but there have also been many achievements. This government came by generating hatred for those mistakes of the government. If the former presidents want Nikol Pashinyan not to be re-elected, they should not strengthen Pashinyan, they should not participate in the elections. Most of the citizens vote for Nikol Pashinyan so that the previous ones do not come back, not because they believe in Pashinyan. It is Nikol Pashinyan’s dream that any of the former presidents enter the election campaign.
- I am proud of every minute of my biography and I walk with an open front. I have never been a party member, I have done professional work, which allowed me to understand the state and management system very well from the inside. The fact that I aspire to become the prime minister is because I have experience working in the administration system and know the problems from the inside:
- When the 2nd president announces his participation in the elections, he presents a great gift to Nikol Pashinyan. I’m sure he was happy to know that. It helps him stay in power and become a dictator.
- People are tired. These elections are not ordinary, they are historic elections about the future of our country. People don’t want to see a mess, they want Nikol Pashinyan to leave, this disaster to stop…
- Now I say, “Aren’t you a man? Come and talk to me.” You say that he will lie and argue… what debate with a liar… It’s okay, let him argue… Let him argue… I am a patient person, I have been patient with many quarrelers and liars, I will be patient with him too, let him come to a substantive debate with me, definitely, I am ready right now.
- It hurts me that we give Nikol Pashinyan an opportunity to put a stigma on the former presidents, those presidents who have great merit in the establishment of our state. We won a war under the first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the economy developed under the 2nd president Robert Kocharyan, we entered the EAEU and signed the CEPA under the 3rd president Serzh Sargsyan, which is an important document, but every leader has his time.
- I didn’t get into this process to put a cap and get out. I’m after a specific result. We do not aim to establish ourselves at the expense of anyone, but we will not allow them to establish themselves at our expense either. This is a state, we are facing ontological problems. We have to understand what kept these authorities on the horse, what makes them stronger, so as not to allow their reproduction to be repeated.
Details in the video.
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