Armen Ashotyan, Vice President of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), delivered a speech at the European People's Party (EPP) Political Assembly, focusing primarily on the unlawful detention of Armenians in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In a Facebook post, Ashotyan said his main message addressed “Armenians held illegally in the prisons of Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
He emphasized the importance of upholding moral principles in geopolitics and warned against compromising on values. “Today I spoke at the EPP Political Assembly as someone who, after more than two years under the grip of the Nikol-led criminal group, has not lost his voice and cannot remain silent while around 40 people are currently imprisoned in my country for their political views.”
He added: “I spoke about our country's disgraceful reality, the two-faced silence of European institutions, and our compatriots held hostage in Azerbaijan.”
Ashotyan criticized what he described as illusions in political leadership: “Nikol is not a magician, but a cheap con artist. That’s the stark difference between Copperfield and a street hustler.”
He acknowledged that “one or several speeches won’t bring spring,” but emphasized the duty to keep pressing those with power to act and respond truthfully.
“In the absence of such accountability, I insist that I represent the real Europe, along with hundreds of thousands of my fellow citizens who understand the value of freedom, dignity, struggle, and humanity,” Ashotyan concluded.
