"Pashinyan Has Many Opponents": "Eco-Activist" on Yerevan Visit

Azerbaijani civil activist Dilara Efendiyeva, known for her participation in the blockade of Artsakh, shared her impressions of her recent visit to Yerevan in an interview with the Azerbaijani Minval Politika. She claimed that the reaction of Armenian society to the peace agenda was generally positive, although she admitted that Armenian society is deeply divided.

According to Efendiyeva, the policy pursued by the Armenian authorities is facing serious resistance. "Nikol Pashinyan's team and his policy have many opponents: Diaspora structures, the internal opposition, and representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church. These forces do not agree with such a formulation; they are still full of revanchist sentiments and oppose peace," she said.

At the same time, she highly praised the activities of the RA Prime Minister, describing him as "a very flexible politician who quickly realized the need to accept reality and extract the maximum benefit for Armenia from the situation."

Speaking about the reception of their delegation in Yerevan, Efendiyeva noted that the atmosphere was positive. "When we were walking in Yerevan, it was clear from the expressions on some people's faces that they understood who we were. But there was no negative reaction; we noticed absolutely nothing negative," she insisted.

The Azerbaijani activist also addressed the accusations against her related to the blockade of the Lachin corridor. According to her, after the visit, "radical groups" in Armenia accused her of initiating the blockade. She presented her version, claiming that her task at the time was to "negotiate with the Russian peacekeepers to allow our environmentalists to enter the copper mines in Karabakh." Concluding her speech, she expressed confidence that the signing of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan would be "an incredible progress for the entire region."