The fact that Azerbaijan continues to make demands on Armenia has long been evident, and the authorities’ reluctance to address this openly – or their tendency to use it as a tool of intimidation – is purely propagandistic in nature, wrote Mesrop Arakelyan, co-founder of the “Land to Live” party.

“Since 2020, Azerbaijan has consistently put forward demands to the Armenian authorities. Some are temporarily withdrawn, only to re-emerge later, depending on expediency and the evolving situation.

Now, on the eve of elections, the issue of constitutional amendments is once again being raised. To avoid this, Nikol Pashinyan is resorting to fear-based rhetoric, warning the public of war.

Is there a risk of war? Yes, there is – regardless of whether Pashinyan remains in power or not. These risks must be reduced and neutralized. However, the solution does not lie in continuous concessions, but in effective engagement with international partners and open dialogue with Azerbaijan – areas in which the current government has consistently fallen short.

Nikol Pashinyan will eventually depart, leaving behind numerous landmines planted beneath Armenia’s statehood – challenges that will require an exceptionally professional government to defuse.”