Will the West save Armenia?
POLITICSThe bastion of democracy in the Caucasus faces the threat of genocide
A day before the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, on April 23, Azerbaijan announced of installing of a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor - the only road connecting Artsakh with the outside world. Today, more than a century after the atrocious crime of 1915, the Armenian people again face the threat of new extermination.
The dictatorship of Azerbaijan, with the assistance of Turkey, continues to pursue a genocidal policy against the Armenians. Nagorno-Karabakh, home to 120,000 Armenians, has been under siege for 135 days without food, energy or basic necessities. They have only one choice: either to be wiped out or forced to leave their homeland.
Armenia expects from the West and international organizations not statements, but practical steps to help the Armenian democracy in the Caucasus fighting against dictatorial Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan once stated, that democracy is the main international brand of Armenia, a key factor in maintaining the country's sovereignty.
The Azerbaijanis themselves speak about the dictatorship of official Baku, whom the regime oppresses even outside the country:
An opposition political blogger, the author of the Diktator TV project, Manaf Jalilzade (lives in Switzerland): “In Azerbaijan, people are afraid of the police, so they are afraid to raise their voices against the government. But one day patience will run out and a revolution will occur. At the moment there isn’t even any proper opposition in Azerbaijan.”
Former member of the opposition party Azərbaycan Xalq Cəbhəsi (Popular Front of Azerbaijan) Mohammad Mirzali, (now an independent video blogger in France): “I do not see the possibility of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Do not forget that Azerbaijan is a terrorist country. This country cannot be trusted."
Gabil Mammadov, creator of the Youtube channel HAQSIZLIĞA SUSMA! (Do not be silent about injustice), (currently lives in Germany): “Life in Armenian captivity is much better than in our country. There is only government propaganda on television. For refusing to show [government propaganda], the heads of TV channels are blackmailed and subjected to violence.”
Blogger Tural Sadigly, who received political asylum in Germany: “There are many political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Citizens are forced to silence by different means: money, violence or blackmail”.
The civilized world should prevent Azerbaijan, where authoritarianism and dictatorship reigns, from taking steps aimed at violating the sovereignty of Armenia, the country claimed it’s support to democratic values.
Tigran Kocharyan