Armenian oppositionist seeks political asylum in Azerbaijan
Baku, September 19, AZERTAC
Head of Armenian opposition NGO “Intra-national Liberation Movement” Vahan Martirosian is seeking political asylum in Azerbaijan as he told a press conference in Baku, where he was accompanied by his wife and a two-year old kid.
Martirosian said that together with his family he voluntarily came to Azerbaijan. “As head of ‘Intra-national Liberation Movement’ I have been struggling against the criminal regime of Serzh Sargsian and total corrupt activity of the Armenian authorities. Because of my activity I and my supporters have been persecuted and faced pressure from the Armenian government in the past three years.” “A logical result of this was that I and my family were attacked in our own apartment on August 14 this year by bodyguards and relatives of Mger Sedrakian, a member of parliament from the ruling Republican Party, a close friend of Sargsian,” he said. “Fearful of arrest and unjust trial and for security concerns I decided to immediately leave Armenia.”
Responding to a question ‘Why he chose Azerbaijan?’, Martirosian said he did it because none but Azerbaijani media can inform the world about the crimes of the illegal Sargsian regime, unlawful actions of his close allies, about how this regime is misusing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict solely in their own interests, and how it is devastating the Armenian economy, army and people`s welfare. “Armenia`s older population is filled with nostalgia for good, friendly relations with the people of Azerbaijan, while our youth thinks that Azerbaijan is just 100 years old and that it is inhabited by Wahhabis, and that the country is only pumping oil.” Martirosian said: “If we hold a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh among the people of the older generation, they will vote for being part of Azerbaijan.” Karabakh lands are empty. Despite millions are invested in Shusha, it is a dead city. Just like Stepanakert (Khankandi), where you cannot find a house where a light burns.”
The Armenian asylum seeker also responded to a question about the possible resumption of the Karabakh war, saying: “The Armenian army is incapable of repulsing a military attack. Ninety percent of the Armenian youth lack a sense of responsibility. The Ministry of Defense is torn by corruption, Minister Seyran Ohanian has no say. All instructions come from Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov…”
Martirosian also commented on how he and his family have been treated in Azerbaijan: “We were welcomed very warmly. We have faced no pressure. I took a walkabout in Baku without bodyguards, and bought some souvenirs.”
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