Armenian PM Spokesperson Refutes Turkish Report on Araks River as False

Turkish allegations of a secretive water rights agreement between Armenia and Türkiye have been categorically denied by Armenian officials, who are characterizing the claims as part of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at undermining regional stability.

The controversy erupted after Turkish journalist Okay Deprem published a report in the Evrensel newspaper claiming that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had agreed to grant Türkiye exclusive rights to use water resources from the Araks River without compensation. The Araks, a significant transboundary waterway, forms part of Armenia’s border with both Türkiye and Iran, making it strategically important for all countries in the region.

Nazeli Baghdasaryan, spokesperson for Prime Minister Pashinyan, issued a strongly worded denial of the report. “This particular publication clearly fits within the framework of coordinated disinformation campaigns directed against Armenia and is intended to deliberately mislead the public,” Baghdasaryan stated on social media.

The Prime Minister’s office noted that this isn’t the first time Deprem has disseminated false information about Armenian-Turkish relations. Previously, the journalist claimed that Pashinyan had agreed to build ten mosques in Armenia at the request of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—an allegation that was similarly refuted by Armenian authorities.

Water rights in the South Caucasus region have long been a sensitive political issue, particularly given the complex geopolitical dynamics between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. The Araks River, which runs for approximately 1,072 kilometers, serves as a critical water resource for agriculture and hydroelectric power in multiple countries.

Relations between Armenia and Türkiye have been historically strained, with the border between the two countries closed since 1993 when Türkiye, in solidarity with Azerbaijan, imposed a blockade on Armenia during the first Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Recent diplomatic efforts to normalize relations have made modest progress but remain complicated by unresolved historical and territorial disputes.

Baghdasaryan commended media outlets that sought official clarification before publishing information about the alleged agreement. “Several responsible fact-checking media outlets have already responded, obtaining official clarifications from us and publishing the refutations. Such a professional approach is commendable,” she noted.

However, the spokesperson expressed concern that some media organizations continue to disseminate unverified information without due diligence. “It is highly concerning that some media continue to reproduce and disseminate obviously false information without any verification, effectively becoming either voluntary or inadvertent participants in these disinformation campaigns,” Baghdasaryan added.

In a move suggesting a more proactive approach to countering misinformation, the Prime Minister’s office announced plans to publish a series of materials addressing these disinformation campaigns in the near future. These publications aim to expose the actual sources and actors behind what Armenian officials view as coordinated attempts to manipulate public opinion and destabilize the region.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of information warfare in the South Caucasus, where media narratives often become battlegrounds for competing geopolitical interests. Analysts note that water security is increasingly becoming a flash point in regions affected by climate change and political tensions, making it a particularly vulnerable target for disinformation.

As Armenia and Türkiye continue tentative steps toward normalization of relations, incidents like this underscore the fragility of diplomatic progress and the potential for misinformation to derail confidence-building measures between the two neighbors.