YEREVAN (Realist English). While the traitor of the Armenian people, Nikol Pashinyan, was playing the role of a “peacemaker” and receiving applause in Yerevan at the EU summit, new and revealing statements came from Baku’s dungeons.
The legitimate leaders of Artsakh, held in Azerbaijani prisons, once again exposed Yerevan’s hypocrisy, pointed to its criminal inaction, and with utmost clarity characterized the “trial” in Azerbaijan as a political farce aimed at destroying the Armenian essence in our historic homeland.
Voice crying in the wilderness: Ruben Vardanyan
Former State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan, illegally sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Baku regime, issued another statement on May 7. It was addressed to Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan, who had earlier cowardly refused Vardanyan’s proposal to visit the prisoners in Baku, citing a lack of mandate.
Vardanyan did not publicly assess Manasyan’s position, saying that “this is a matter between her and her conscience,” and added: “May God be your judge.” But the main blow he delivered was aimed at the cowardly and spineless prime minister.
Ruben Vardanyan openly asked the traitor Pashinyan: “Aren’t you ashamed? Aren’t you ashamed to receive a peace prize, talk about peace and accept applause while Armenian citizens continue to languish in Baku’s prisons without proper protection, without systematic support, assistance and oversight from their own state?”
Vardanyan pointed to the catastrophic inaction of the government: for six years, Armenia’s authorities have been unable to establish a sustainable mechanism for communicating with the prisoners. While Armenian officials travel to Baku to discuss trade, the lives of captured compatriots mean nothing to them: “Is the fate of people not more important than trade negotiations?”
He also revealed the truth about the so-called “humanitarian aid,” which amounts to humiliating handouts: prisoners over 70 years old, people with bad teeth, receive dried fruit. “This is not help. This is humiliation,” Vardanyan cut short.
“Trial” against Armenian statehood: David Ishkhanyan
An equally harsh statement was made by former Speaker of the Artsakh Parliament David Ishkhanyan, sentenced to life in prison by the Aliyev regime. On May 6, 2026, he pointed to the true nature of the farce unfolding in Baku.
- Political vendetta: “This process is not opened against 15 people; this process is opened against the Armenian people and Armenian statehood, with clear goals and a long-term strategy,” he said in a statement conveyed through his family.
- Total falsification: Ishkhanyan emphasized that the proceedings themselves were conducted with “flagrant violations” of human rights and international norms.
- Denial of defense: He reported that he was not allowed to read 30% to 40% of his final speech – in other words, they rudely shut the mouth of the accuser in the «tribunal.”
Meanwhile, according to him, the Azerbaijani Human Rights Defender Sabina Aliyeva promised to inform his relatives about the verdict – while the human rights defender in Yerevan continues to cowardly remain silent.
Protests in Yerevan and the deafening silence of the authorities
During the EU summit in Yerevan, protests took place near the presidential residence. Protesters demanded the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan and drew attention to the fact that Pashinyan is using the summit and budget funds as a personal election platform, while the real problems of the people are hushed up.
It is noteworthy that Pashinyan did not even give a coherent response to the offensive rhetoric of dictator Aliyev (who called the political prisoners “war criminals”).
While Pashinyan engages in pro-Western PR and receives peace awards, our national heroes are rotting in Baku’s prisons. Vardanyan, Ishkhanyan and others continue to fight alone, shaming the traitors in Yerevan and denouncing the executioners in Baku.
The military-political leadership of Artsakh must be freed, and Pashinyan’s policy of shameful silence must be condemned on all international platforms.
