Yerevan | July 17, 2025
Opposition lawmaker Ishkhan Saghatelyan has accused Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of “deceiving the public” and secretly granting a transit corridor to Azerbaijan and Turkey, allegedly under Western patronage and without national consent.
In an interview with News.am, Saghatelyan — a representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and a member of the “Armenia” opposition bloc — criticized the government’s recent actions regarding the controversial Zangezur corridor and broader regional alignments.
“For four years, we warned that Pashinyan had already promised a corridor. The problem wasn’t whether it would happen — it was who would control it,” Saghatelyan said. “They accused us of manipulating facts, but the truth is now clear: he has handed over a corridor with serious restrictions and is now trying to justify it through lies and fabricated narratives.”
Saghatelyan argued that the government’s previous denials have now unraveled and accused Pashinyan of “once again trying to fool the people to cover another concession.” He warned that Armenia is heading in a “dangerous direction” and expressed concern over the involvement of non-regional powers along Armenia’s southern border near Iran.
“This will not bring stability or peace. On the contrary, it invites new instability and unresolved security risks,” he added.
When asked about the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement — particularly the clause suggesting a transport link through Armenia’s Syunik region under Russian oversight — Saghatelyan recalled Pashinyan’s previous claims denying the creation of any corridor.
“At that time, Nikol claimed no corridor would exist, arguing that Lachin and Zangezur were different. But what happened? Azerbaijan blockaded the Lachin corridor. And under Western cover, Pashinyan surrendered Artsakh to avoid future corridor debates. He thought that with Artsakh gone, Azerbaijan’s demands would end. Instead, they’ve grown louder.”
The comments come amid renewed domestic criticism over the government’s handling of regional transit negotiations and a perceived erosion of national sovereignty. While official Yerevan maintains that no extraterritorial concessions have been made, the opposition insists the situation amounts to strategic capitulation — with uncertain consequences for Armenia’s future security and regional standing.
