Jailed former Karabakh FM says Azeri media distorted his statements about Ivanyan events

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno-Karabakh Davit Babayan, who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan on fabricated charges amid an ongoing mock trial, has said that the Azeri media have distorted his statements about the 1992 events in Ivanyan, known as Khojaly in Azerbaijan, during the latest trial. 

Babayan was questioned about the events on April 21.

He released an audio recording through his family to 168.am media outlet, saying that the Azeri media have attributed to him statements he never made.

“The Azeri media reported about the 1992 Ivanyan events completely opposite what I had said. They commented in one way, whereas I had said a completely different thing,” Babayan said.

“I had said that those responsible for that event are the Azeri side, it was the result of an internal power struggle. In addition, I never said that an award for liberation of Ivanyan existed. This was also wrongly worded. I am going to raise this issue during tomorrow’s court session,” Babayan said.

Babayan said he was treated normally in the Baku prison, adding that he misses his family. 

Since April 24 will mark the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Babayan said he would “be at Tsitsernakaberd memorial in spirit and thoughts.”

Azeri media falsely claimed that Babayan said during the trial that Nagorno-Karabakh had a dedicated award for the “liberation of Khojaly”. Furthermore, Azeri media falsely claimed that Babayan, referring to the Khojaly events, said “those who wanted to resolve that matter through force had achieved their goal”.