Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, addressed the reactions to his recent statements via his Telegram channel, reiterating that "Armenia and Azerbaijan will live in peace, trade with each other, Azerbaijani goods will appear in our markets, and Armenian products in theirs. Armenians and Azerbaijanis will live side by side."

He questioned why his remarks had caused such irritation, stating, "I understand why Azerbaijanis were upset when I said Armenians should one day return and live in Baku. But I find it strange that some former Karabakh officials, street cats on garbage heaps, failed Armenian influencers, Facebook’s infamous prostitutes, drunken and inept former university lecturers, and other remnants of the Kocharyan-Sargsyan zoo are making such noise."

Simonyan defended his stance by asserting that if Armenians displaced from Karabakh can dream of returning, then those who lost homes in Baku or Sumgait pogroms should have the same right.

On trade, he said, "It’s even more baffling that some are offended by the idea of trading with Azerbaijan or Turkey after a peace agreement. Should we close our borders on our own too? Thousands of Armenians do business in Georgia, Russia, and elsewhere. During recent events, many from Karabakh sold both brandy and utilities—do you want me to name names?"

He criticized those who envision Armenia under self-imposed blockade, saying it would lead to a collapse of the state and economy: "Should we cut off transportation, goods, gas, and electricity to stay proud and isolated? That way, we’ll be left with no people or economy in Armenia."

"You are either ignorant, blinded by incompetence, or enemy agents. I think it’s all three. The good news is that you no longer decide anything in this country and never will again. Armenia and Azerbaijan will live in peace and trade together, as they did in the past. Armenians and Azerbaijanis will live side by side. Get used to it."

He concluded with: "There will be no war, only peace."

Simonyan also responded to opposition MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan, who had told reporters that "after regime change, the only place Simonyan can live is Baku." Referring to the opposition, Simonyan wrote on Telegram that "these people have nothing to say—they are alive, but politically dead."

Earlier, Simonyan had stated: "Just like Armenians live in Georgia now, Azerbaijanis will live here. Moreover, five minutes after a peace treaty is signed, Armenians and Azerbaijanis will start trading and communicating in all forms."