Azerbaijan persists in its policy of occupying Armenia - former ombudsman Arman Tatoyan

YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. Former Armenian human rights defender Arman Tatoyan claims that Azerbaijan remains committed to its strategy of seizing Armenia.

"Azerbaijan has officially announced the completion of registration of more than 100,000 so-called ‘Western Azerbaijanis’ for resettlement in Armenia, and this registration process is continuing. This indicates that the Azerbaijani authorities are actively promoting the ‘Western Azerbaijan’ initiative, which covers the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to significantly change the demographic landscape of Armenia and achieve its complete occupation," Tatoyan said in his speech.

He also noted that every day, 250-300 people contact the Western Azerbaijan organization, expressing their desire to voluntarily register.

“It is particularly alarming that the registry includes not only those who left Armenia between 1988 and 1991, but also the descendants of those who ‘moved’ before that period,” Tatoyan explained.

As the human rights activist noted, there is additional evidence that the Azerbaijani authorities are determined to continue their policy of seizing Armenia, and this course will continue as long as there are forces that place the preservation of power above national interests, and as long as autocracy and party domination reign in Armenia.

The former ombudsman recalled that the Azerbaijani authorities continue to issue identity cards (future passports) in which the place of origin is indicated as “Western Azerbaijan” along with one of the settlements in the Republic of Armenia.-0-