YEREVAN (ArmRadio)—The appointment of Aliyev’s wife and as Vice-President and his son as Deputy Minister was “to enflame the situation across the Line of Contact [of the Nagorno-Karabakh] to divert the public attention from the domestic problems,” said Shahin Mirzoyev, Talyshi activist, journalist at Tolishi Sado newspaper, who fled Azerbaijan and has been granted asylum in Armenia, during an interview with Panorama.am.
“And this is how they are going to solve the Karabakh issue in a ‘peaceful way,’” Mirzoyev said.
The Talysh activist said he has relatives in Azerbaijan, who are being insulted, but Mirzoyev is not sure they will also be able to escape to Armenia.
Having had an opportunity to compare the public opinion in Armenia and Azerbaijan, he said “societies in both countries are ready for dialogue on the Karabakh issue.” He added that “dialogue is possible only in case Ilham Aliyev’s regime is ousted,” but added that “Aliyev is doing his best to have the conflict and enmity continue in order to keep power.”
Asked to comment on the reason for the recent provocations by Azerbaijan at the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact, Mirzoyev said Azerbaijan faces certain social problems and when resentment reaches a peak, the leadership makes use of war threats, and launches provocations.
The opposition journalist, however, dismissed the possibility of a large-scale war to be initiated by Azerbaijan. In his conviction, no matter how well the country is equipped with modern armament, the main ‘weapon’ of any leader remains his own people, with Azerbaijani president having no backing of the Azerbaijani population.
“Aliyev is doing his best to have the conflict and enmity continue in order to keep power.”.. Is the sad truth.