Armenian society has been subjected to powerful information aggression in recent years, the primary goal of which is to reshape the image of the modern Armenian. This view was expressed by former Foreign Minister of Artsakh Karen Mirzoyan.
According to him, this process is aimed at the gradual transformation of national identity, historical memory, and the system of values within Armenian society.
The Goal Is to Reshape the Modern Armenian Identity
“We are subjected to a powerful information aggression aimed at reshaping the image of the modern Armenian. There are attempts to change people’s priorities and transform them into individuals whose only goals are to eat well and sleep comfortably afterward. They want Armenians to forget their history, their past, and their national identity,” Mirzoyan says.
In his assessment, Armenian society faces such influences every day through multiple channels, although many people still consider these developments to be accidental.
“If some believe that those who speak about this are overly suspicious or even irrational, it is enough to look carefully at the events of recent years to understand that the reality is obvious,” he notes.
The Rejection of Historical Memory Occurs Gradually
According to Mirzoyan, this process unfolds step by step. Society is first encouraged to stop discussing Artsakh, then to revise national history and remain silent about its own rights in order, allegedly, to avoid provoking additional demands from adversaries.
The former foreign minister compares this approach to children’s behavior.
“It reminds me of young children playing hide-and-seek who, instead of hiding, simply close their eyes and say: if I cannot see you, then you cannot see me. Obviously, such an approach cannot withstand any serious criticism,” he says.
The Issue of Artsakh Armenians Cannot Be Closed
Mirzoyan sharply criticizes official interpretations regarding the situation of forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh.
According to him, refugee or forcibly displaced status is not merely a legal concept but a profound human tragedy. He argues that the dispossession of Artsakh Armenians cannot be forgotten, compared with other tragedies, or considered a closed issue.
“The issue of Artsakh Armenians cannot be closed simply because someone claims that raising it gives Baku an opportunity to make new demands. That is equivalent to telling someone that if they do not want another person to feel uncomfortable, then they themselves should not feel well either,” Mirzoyan emphasizes.
Azerbaijan and Turkey Seek to Expand Their Influence in Armenia
Commenting on arguments that Armenia’s neighbors may eventually abandon territorial and political claims against Armenia, the former Artsakh foreign minister describes such expectations as unrealistic.
In his view, Azerbaijan and, to some extent, Turkey are openly pursuing policies aimed at significantly increasing their influence within Armenia.
“We clearly see that Azerbaijan and partly Turkey are implementing policies intended to achieve a critical increase in Azerbaijani and Turkish influence within Armenia. To achieve this objective, they are also pursuing policies that could increase the Azerbaijani ethnic presence in Armenia,” Mirzoyan says.
The Problem Is Not Numbers but Political Consequences
According to Mirzoyan, the central issue is not the number of potential settlers but the political consequences of such a process.
“We are told that 300,000 people will not be brought to Armenia. But the issue is not about numbers. Even the presence of a single resettled person on Armenian territory would create an entire set of obligations. Armenia would be forced to guarantee that person’s security, rights, and numerous related issues. Meanwhile, the other side demonstrates no intention of assuming similar obligations,” he notes.
The “Western Azerbaijan” Project Is a Joint Turkish-Azerbaijani Initiative
The former Artsakh foreign minister also rejects the view that the so-called “Western Azerbaijan” project is solely the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
“In Armenia, people often try to present this as Aliyev’s personal project or merely an Azerbaijani ambition. In reality, I am convinced that this is primarily a Turkish project,” Mirzoyan states.
He recalls that immediately after the 2020 war, several organizations were established in Turkey claiming to represent the so-called heirs of “Western Azerbaijan.”
“We should also remember that there were even declarations regarding the creation of the so-called ‘Goycha Republic.’ All of this occurred under the patronage and support of Turkish authorities. This demonstrates that we are dealing with a joint Azerbaijani-Turkish project,” he emphasizes.
According to Mirzoyan, regardless of how Armenian authorities respond to these developments, the implementation of this project will continue.
“Regardless of attempts by Armenian authorities to pursue an ostrich policy, we are dealing with a program that will continue to be implemented systematically,” the former Artsakh foreign minister concludes.