Artsakh Public Council: Forcibly displaced residents of Artsakh must  not become targets of political speculation and provocations

ArmInfo.Within the framework of the electoral process in the Republic of Armenia, the political actions of the ruling power are going beyond the boundaries  of a civilized and democratic format, according to a statement issued by the Public Council of Artsakh.

The organization strongly condemns the hate speech generated by the  authorities and spread in the public sphere, which is often  accompanied by threats, labels, and dangerous examples of inciting  hostility and division between various groups in society.

"It is particularly concerning that, in the context of political  struggle, forcibly displaced residents of Artsakh are once again  becoming the target of attacks, with attempts being made to portray  them as a source of domestic political tension or to use them for  provocative purposes," the statement reads. The Council called this  approach not only unacceptable but also dangerous, given the  sensitivity and security concerns within Armenian society.

Commenting on the disseminated videos featuring masked individuals,  the Organization noted that it views them as a clear provocation.   "We are confident that they have absolutely no connection with the  residents of Artsakh and were artificially edited to involve them in  domestic political provocations. The Artsakh Public Council calls on  all political forces, government bodies, public figures, and media to  refrain from hate speech, threats, and dangerous rhetoric that  destroys society. Election campaigns must not degenerate into  hostility, and forcibly displaced residents of Artsakh must not  become the target of political speculation and provocations. We urge  the competent authorities to properly assess such events, prevent  possible provocations, and ensure public safety and harmony. The  dignity, security, and rights of the people of Artsakh cannot be used  as a tool for domestic political struggle," the Council's statement  reads.

It should be noted that days earlier, pro-government media outlets  circulated a video showing unknown armed individuals threatening  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Artsakh dialect and  calling on Armenian citizens not to vote for him in the parliamentary  elections.