Is there real risk from Azerbaijan envoy’s threat to Armenia ambassador to EU?

The Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) of Armenia commented—in response to Sputnik Armenia’s written inquiry—whether the life of Armenia’s ambassador to the EU, Tigran Balayan, is at real risk after the threats made against him by the ambassador of Azerbaijan.

In early November, it became known that the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium, Vaqif Sadiqov, had threatened to kill the ambassador of Armenia to Belgium, the head of the Armenian mission in the EU, Tigran Balayan. The incident had occurred during a reception held by the Turkish embassy in Brussels.

On November 5, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan had confirmed that there were threats and insults against Balayan at this event.

And Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan had emphasized that Balayan’s participation in the aforesaid reception dedicated to the Turkish National Day was agreed with the Armenian foreign ministry.

“Within the scope of its powers, the [Foreign Intelligence] Service [of Armenia] participates in the work of various competent bodies aimed at assessing security risks towards officials of the Republic of Armenia, including diplomats, and taking the necessary measures based on the results,” FIS head Kristinne Grigoryan stated in response to the aforementioned written inquiry.