The European Union (EU), which has announced its readiness to counter Russian influence in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia, should also respond in the same way to threats coming from Azerbaijan. Arman Tatoyan, the prime minister candidate of the Wings of Unity party and former Human Rights Defender of Armenia, stated this in a letter to Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia.

In the letter, Tatoyan presented facts that, according to him, indicate direct and veiled threats coming from Azerbaijan regarding a possible change of power in Armenia.

“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.

Also, Tatoyan called on the EU Delegation to Armenia to publicly condemn the aforementioned statements and record the existence of this interference as an illegal and unacceptable attempt to influence the electoral process of Armenia from outside; and to expand the mechanisms they use, as the EU has noted, to counter Russian disinformation; and to also include identifying, publicizing, and countering attempts by Azerbaijani interference in a transparent and consistent manner.

In addition, Arman Tatoyan stated that the fight against external interference cannot be selective and must be carried out regardless of its source.