Political scientist: Parliamentary elections in Armenia to be choice  between preserving Armenia and turning it into so-called `Western  Azerbaijan`

ArmInfo.. The upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia, scheduled for June 7, 2026, will not simply be a political contest, but a choice between preserving  the Republic of Armenia and the prospect of becoming a so-called  "Western Azerbaijan."

Political scientist and commentator Benjamin Matevosyan wrote this on his Facebook page, reacting to another statement by the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO),  Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade.

He recalled that it was after Pashazade's statements that Armenian  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan launched a broad campaign against the  Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).

Meanwhile, as Matevosyan noted, Pashazade is already making  territorial claims against Armenia, claiming that establishing  control over the road through Syunik is a problem requiring a  priority solution. The political scientist wondered whether the  Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) or Pashinyan would send a  note of protest to Azerbaijan in connection with these statements.  "After all, if we strive for true peace, it can't be a one-way street  - Azerbaijan must also demonstrate a readiness for peace, at least at  the level of official rhetoric and public discourse," the political  scientist emphasized.

He noted that the timing of these statements is also noteworthy,  recalling that they were made during the week of remembrance for the  victims of the Sumgait massacre and genocide. According to  Matevosyan, judging by the statements of both Pashazade and  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, which deny the existence of the  government's "Crossroads of Peace" project, and by the way Azerbaijan  is actively arming itself, the country is confronting a harsh truth:  Azerbaijanis consider all of Armenia's territory their own, calling  it "Western Azerbaijan."

"History shows that genocide is being committed in the territories  Azerbaijan considers its own. Their current policies and public  discourse in no way indicate a renunciation of these aspirations.  This is merely a temporary pre-election pause. However, there are  many citizens in Armenia who resolutely say 'no' to the so-called  'Western Azerbaijan' project and recognize that the upcoming  parliamentary elections in Armenia are a choice between preserving  the Republic and the prospect of becoming a so-called 'Western  Azerbaijan.' The final conclusion and choice must be made by the  citizens of Armenia, deciding what future they want to build for  their homeland," Matevosyan concluded.

It should be recalled that in May 2025, Pashazade stated that  Armenian holy sites operating in Armenia and the region for decades,  even the 1,700-year-old Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, are located on  "historically Azerbaijani lands" and that Armenians allegedly  "appropriated" these territories. Pashazade concluded his series of  absurd statements by portraying the Armenian Apostolic Church as a  threat to countries in the region. It's noteworthy that Armenian  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's campaign against the Armenian Church  began immediately after Pashazade's statements.