Arman Tatoyan, the prime minister candidate of the Wings of Unity party and former Human Rights Defender of Armenia, presented facts that, according to him, testify to direct and veiled threats coming from Azerbaijan regarding a possible change of power in Armenia.

He addressed this issue—with a letter—to Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia, emphasizing that the EU, which has declared its readiness to counter Russian influence in Armenia’s parliamentary election on June 7, should respond in the same way to threats coming from Azerbaijan.

“Among the documented cases are the following: An MP from the ruling party of Azerbaijan made a public statement warning that the victory of the opposition in Armenia could prompt Azerbaijan to formally make territorial claims against Armenia. A newspaper controlled by the Azerbaijani presidential administration stated that a ‘revanchist’ government in Armenia ‘will have nothing to govern,’ while a media outlet controlled by the [Azerbaijani] defense ministry stated that ‘it is especially important’ that power in Armenia remains in the hands of forces that are in line with Azerbaijan’s strategic goals. These statements, taken together, represent a coordinated attempt by state actors in Baku to influence the results of the Armenian elections through intimidation,” the letter states, in part.