Azerbaijan Uses Prohibited Psychotropic Substances on Armenian Prisoners in Baku: Pashinyan
Armenia possesses intelligence data indicating that Azerbaijan uses prohibited psychotropic substances on Armenian prisoners held in Baku to extract statements and testimonies aimed at inciting regional escalations. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during an interview with Public Television.
I do not consider any of those held there my political opponents, on the contrary, we are well aware that what is happening is not only deeply concerning but is also being used—and will be used—to provoke new escalations in the region. These proceedings will be exploited against the Republic of Armenia. It is highly likely that, through the use of prohibited psychotropic substances, testimonies will be extracted from those individuals, which will be utilized in various ways against the Republic of Armenia. We understand this issue thoroughly and in depth, – Pashinyan noted.
The Prime Minister assured that every available measure is being employed to address this issue.
In September 2024, however, a remote debate occurred between Nikol Pashinyan and Ruben Vardanyan. During a press conference, Pashinyan raised several questions regarding Ruben Vardanyan.
What happened? How did it come to be that Ruben Vardanyan renounced his Russian citizenship? Who advised him to take this step? Who sent him to Armenia, to Artsakh? For what purpose, with what guarantees, with what promises? And then he says, ‘You know what? We don’t quite know who he is because, apparently, he’s a citizen of another country.’ Do we want answers to these questions or not? – Pashinyan remarked during his conversation with journalists.
Ruben Vardanyan’s response was not delayed.
First of all, people judge others’ actions based on their own life models and principles. Secondly, if the Prime Minister had any questions for me, he had the opportunity to address them during our last meeting in November 2022, when I was still serving as State Minister. In any case, even now, I am ready, given my current circumstances, to answer any of his questions, – stated the former State Minister of Artsakh.