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Who... suffers from it and why? According to the definition, this syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where captives develop positive feelings towards their captors.

Such behavior is peculiar to the weak: being under someone's influence, they become dependent on him, consider him strong and themselves not hostages, but rather people who picked the strong. Weakness does not allow them to reevaluate their utter dependence, while self-defense instincts allow them to deceive themselves by attributing great human qualities to their captors.

Thus, Nikol Pashinyan became a savior for those who elected him, while Ilham Aliyev seemed to be an educated person for Nikol.

According to a definition, the psychological defense mechanism of the weak is based on the hope that the strong will show leniency in case of submission.

In all likelihood, this is one of the reasons why at every meeting with Aliyev and Erdogan Pashinyan tries to entertain them, and by giving them chunks of Armenian territory, he expects them to praise him. Weak man, weak-minded people who dream of approval and imagine solving issues with someone who is holding them hostage, need support – psychiatric or psychological treatment. They say family support can also be of help.

However, it seems that the families of those who voted for Nikol and Aliyev are completely unanimous on this matter, and if, suddenly, there is someone free out there, they think, “There’s no point in arguing with them.”

I don't know whether the Stockholm syndrome towards the Aliyeva-Nikol duo will be cured before the elections. Or will Armenia be included in the row describing this disease as the biggest example?

Anahit Voskanyan