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The destruction of Nagorno-Karabakh shows that the West has again failed to stand up to international aggression
It happened quickly, the final invasion, and with hundreds of Orthodox Christians killed by the aggressors. Armenia, led by a one-time human rights lawyer, had no alternative but to save thousands of its people from death by surrendering their enclave at Nagorno-Karabakh to the brutal forces of Ilham Aliyev, dictator of Azerbaijan….
Yaroslav Hunka was a member of the 1st Galician division, a unit of Adolf Hitler’s war machine
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized on behalf of Canada’s Parliament after a man who fought in Adolf Hitler’s Nazi forces was included in an event last week honoring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“This was a mistake that has deeply embarrassed Parliament and Canada. All of us who were in this House on Friday regret deeply having stood and clapped even though we did so unaware of the context,” Trudeau said in a brief statement to reporters.
“It was a horrendous violation of the memory of the millions of people who died in the Holocaust,” he said, adding the celebration of ex-soldier Yaroslav Hunka was “deeply, deeply painful” to Jewish people, Poles, Roma, the LGBT community and other racialized people in particular — some of the groups that were targeted by the Nazi regime in the Second World War.
Trudeau also said that “Canada is deeply sorry” for involving Zelenskyy, who was pictured applauding Hunka — an image that has been exploited by Russian propagandists.
Canada has sent an apology to Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian delegation through diplomatic channels, Trudeau added.
Liberal caucus sources have told CBC News that Trudeau told MPs Wednesday they should avoid speaking to the press about Hunka’s invitation and the subsequent fallout, and that the media frenzy would die down if they stayed tight-lipped.
Trudeau’s remarks come after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said inviting Hunka to attend Zelenskyy’s historic address to Parliament is the “biggest single diplomatic embarrassment” in the country’s history.
Poilievre is blaming Trudeau for the mishap, despite outgoing Speaker Anthony Rota’s assertion that he alone was responsible for inviting Hunka.
Rota called the Ukrainian veteran a “Canadian hero” in the Commons and prompted a standing ovation.
Hunka was part of the First Ukrainian Division, also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division or the SS 14th Waffen Division — a voluntary unit that was part of Hitler’s forces.
Speaking to reporters before a Conservative caucus meeting on Parliament Hill, Poilievre said Trudeau was responsible for making Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada a success — and Hunka’s inclusion in the event has sullied Canada’s reputation on the global stage.
“Every single person ought to have been vetted for their diplomatic and security sensitivities if the prime minister and his massive apparatus were doing their jobs,” Poilievre said.
In question period, Poilievre again hammered Trudeau over the incident, saying it’s not enough for the prime minister to apologize on behalf of Canada or Parliament. He said Trudeau should wear this personally.
“This prime minister allowed for a monumental, unprecedented and global shame to unfold in this chamber,” Poilievre said. “Will he take personal responsibility for this shame and personally apologize on behalf of himself?”
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/yaroslav-hunka-fallout-1.6979628?ref=readthemaple.com
Take a look at Erdogan, Aliyev, and Putin, who have held power for the past two decades without facing electoral defeat.
We inquired with Vazgen Manukyan, a member of the “National Committee,” about the possibility of Prime Minister Pashinyan announcing early elections tomorrow, similar to what occurred in 2021. Back then, during the movement to defend the Motherland, various institutions including the General Staff, alongside the church, called for Pashinyan’s resignation. However, the opposition eventually chose to participate in those elections.
Manukyan maintained his stance, asserting that he was opposed to such a move back then and remains so now. His reasoning lies in the fact that since 1995-96, the ruling authorities have consistently emerged victorious in elections, resulting in no change in government. While Manukyan did not rule out the potential for a change in government through effective organization, he emphasized that the fate of the people should not be staked on such a gamble.
Nagorno-Karabakh crisis forces Western rethink on Azerbaijan
Baku has drawn the ire of the EU and US after years of promoting itself as a reliable security partner and vital transport hub,
As the dramatic images emerge of thousands of Karabakh Armenians forced away from their homes in a mass exodus, some in the west are beginning to rethink their relationship with Azerbaijan.
Through a mixture of skilled diplomacy and lobbying, the resource-rich country has for years promoted itself in the UK and EU as a reliable security partner and vital transport hub.
But by launching a military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and triggering a humanitarian catastrophe as refugees pour out of the region, the Azerbaijanpresident, Ilham Aliyev, has drawn the ire of the EU and the US.
“The crisis and human suffering could and should have been prevented,” said a senior western diplomat in Baku, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It will be trickier for us to continue as usual with Azerbaijan.”
At the UN last week, the German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, accused Baku of “breaking its repeated assurances to refrain from the use of force, causing tremendous suffering to a population already in dire straits”. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said Azerbaijani authorities were “uninhibited”.
“Many in Brussels and Washington feel shocked and betrayed by Azerbaijan’s use of force,” said Thomas de Waal, senior fellow at the Carnegie Europe thinktank. He said that western officials believe the inaction of the 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed to the region suggests that a side deal was reached between Moscow and Baku, who both blamed the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and his pro-western pivot for the fighting.
“The west has been marginalised, despite long efforts to solve the conflict,” De Waal said. “For a long time, Azerbaijan was very skilled at projecting its value to the west. But there seems to be a revaluation going on about just how important and trustworthy Baku really is.”
Baku for years has been said to employ so-called “caviar diplomacy”: using cash and gifts to buy influence in Europe. The Guardian previously revealed how Azerbaijan funnelled about $2.9bn (£2.2bn) out of the country via a network of secret British companies to pay supporters, lobbyists and politicians in Europe, buy luxury goods and services, and launder money for the Azerbaijani elite.
Prior to the latest fighting in Karabakh, Europe appeared to be moving closer to Baku, despite the country’s poor human rights record and credible evidence that it committed atrocities in the 2020 Karabakh war.
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, travelled to Baku in 2022 as the EU looked to reduce its reliance on Russian energy, hailing Azerbaijan as a “crucial” and “reliable” energy supplier. She announced an agreement to double the EU’s purchases of Azerbaijani gas by 2027, but made no mention of the country’s human rights situation or its relationship with Armenia.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/26/nagorno-karabakh-crisis-forces-western-rethink-on-azerbaijan
Azerbaijan has a list of several hundred Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh whom it wants to detain on charges of various crimes, Reuters reports, citing a “senior diplomat”.
“Azerbaijan has a list of “several hundred” Armenians in Karabakh whom they want to detain on charges of various crimes,” the agency reported.
Azerbaijan has already detained Ruben Vardanyan, the former Minister of State of Nagorno-Karabakh, as he tried to cross the checkpoint on Hakari Bridge. He has been charged with “illegally crossing the border of Azerbaijan” and “financing terrorism”.
David Babayan, Advisor to the President and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), went to Shushi and surrendered on Thursday. In a Facebook post, he explained that the Azerbaijani side demanded his arrival in the Azerbaijani capital Baku for an investigation; therefore, he decided to go to Sushi and surrender.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, 88,780 forcibly displaced persons have entered Armenia from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Nazeli Baghdasaryan, press secretary of the Armenian prime minister, informed about this during the press conference presenting the activities of the respective humanitarian centers that has been set up.
“It can be seen from the numeric dynamics that a certain lack of intensity [of the aforesaid displaced persons’ entering Armenia] is felt. As of 06:00, that number was 84,770, and as of 08:00—86,560,” said Baghdasaryan.
She added that 18,756 vehicles crossed the Hakari bridge—to enter Armenia from Artsakh—as of 10am Friday.
Baghdasaryan informed that the buses sent by Yerevan Municipality, and which had left for Artsakh capital Stepanakert Thursday evening, transported about 2,000 forcibly displaced persons from there to Goris, Armenia.
The spokesperson of the Armenian PM said that those buses will leave for Stepanakert again, and they will provide transportation until the last person who expressed a wish to come to Armenia.
Baghdasaryan emphasized that as of now, 63,483 people have been registered in the humanitarian centers in Goris and Vayk cities of Armenia.
Also, she presented how many people made use of the accommodations offered by the Armenian state.
“Last night we had an indicator of 17,153, as of now it is 20,306. Everyone who crosses the Hakari Bridge is offered accommodation. I want to present what indicators we have in the provinces. Aragatsotn Province: 972, Ararat Province: 4,658, Armavir Province: 1,772, Gegharkunik: 1,935, Lori: 921, Kotayk: 4,622, Shirak Province: 900, Syunik: 2,040, Vayots Dzor: 1,370, Tavush: 1,116,” Nazeli Baghdasaryan said.
There are compelling justifications for Pashinyan’s resignation, primarily stemming from the loss of Artsakh during his tenure due to both his actions and inactions. Each day Pashinyan remains in power poses a grave threat to Armenia’s future.
He bears responsibility for mishandling Armenia’s foreign and Karabakh policies through his populist rhetoric, lack of strategic direction, and absence of a clear vision. Pashinyan’s policies have resulted in the most significant tragedy for the Armenian people since 1915.
Western supporters of Armenia and Artsakh have failed to fulfill their commitments, a foreseeable outcome for seasoned politicians, but not for Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party.
Azerbaijan has now crossed all of the West’s established boundaries without encountering any sanctions directed at its government entities or officials. Assigning blame to Putin, Aliyev, Erdogan, or others is inconsequential. As an Armenian citizen, I can only hold my government accountable for mishandling every aspect of this situation.
Op-ed by Karen Harutyunyan, Editor-in-Chief
“The future of Armenia depends on one person, and that person is me. The future of Armenia depends on one person, and that person is you,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in his Sunday address to the nation amid mass protests demanding his resignation following Artsakh’s devastating defeat and loss of independence, which has led to a mass exodus of Armenians.
Some argue that there is a concerted Russian effort to undermine Armenia’s statehood and independence, and they may have a point. Russia not only acquiesced to but also potentially greenlit Azerbaijan’s aggression and subsequent ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia’s ruling party media apologists staunchly adhere to the government’s propaganda line. They suggest that while Pashinyan can be blamed for failing to address Armenia’s challenges, he is not solely responsible for the challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh. Since the end of the 2020 war, this concealed propaganda identifies various convenient scapegoats: former corrupt elites, the army, deserters, traitors, the Alma-Ata Protocol emphasizing member countries’ territorial integrity, Russians, Wagner Group mercenaries, and even the victims themselves — the people of Artsakh. Their ultimate goal is to whitewash the current government and portray it as a defender of Armenia’s sovereignty and independence, while those demanding Pashinyan’s resignation are depicted as “players of Russia’s game.”
There are compelling reasons why Pashinyan must step down, primarily because we lost Artsakh during his leadership, due to both his actions and inactions. Each day Pashinyan remains in office poses an existential threat to Armenia’s future.
He is responsible for screwing up Armenia’s foreign and Karabakh policy with his populist statements, lack of strategy, and lack of vision. Pashinyan’s policy has resulted in the greatest tragedy for the Armenian people since 1915.
All Western supporters of Armenia and Artsakh failed to meet their commitments, a foreseeable outcome for seasoned politicians, but not for Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party.
Azerbaijan has now breached all of the West’s red lines without facing any sanctions so far on its government agencies or officials. Assigning blame to Putin, Aliyev, Erdogan, or others is irrelevant. As a citizen of Armenia and an Armenian, I can only hold my government accountable for mishandling everything.
No one should reinforce Pashinyan’s unofficial narratives about “sovereignty and independence.” His populist rhetoric regarding sovereignty now threatens to erode the last remnants of Armenia’s sovereignty.
Pashinyan must step down and pave the way for the establishment of an interim government of national unity before holding snap parliamentary elections. He and his party pose a significant threat to Armenia’s sovereignty and independence.
P.S.
This article was ready for publication when the breaking news came: “The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will be formally dissolved by the end of the year. All government agencies are ordered to be disbanded by January 1, 2024, according to a decree issued Thursday by President Samvel Shahramanyan.”
Pashinyan must resign now, without any reservations.
Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree Thursday on the actions derived from the situation after September 19.
According to the decree, in the light of the complex military and political situation, based on the priority of ensuring physical safety and vital interests of the people of Artsakh, taking into account the agreement reached through the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent with representatives of Azerbaijan on ensuring free, voluntary, and unrestrained passage of residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the armed servicemen, by their property on their vehicles along the Lachin corridor, and in accordance with article 93 of the Nagorno-Karabakh Constitution, the following decision was made:
1) Dissolve all state institutions and organizations under their administrative jurisdiction by January 1, 2024, and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases to exist.
2) After the entry into force of this Decree, the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, including those outside the Republic, should read the conditions of reintegration presented by Azerbaijan, in order to make further an independent and individual decision on the possibility of stay (return) in Nagorno-Karabakh.
This Decree will enter into force immediately after its publication.
The Azerbaijani authorities have imprisoned Ruben Vardanyan, the former Minister of State of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), for four months, according to APA.
“The presentation was ensured in the process chaired by judge Ulviyya Shukurova. The Court has sentenced Ruben Varda[n]yan to 4 months of preventive detention,” the respective statement reads.
It was reported earlier that Russian Armenian businessman and philanthropist, former Minister of State of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan was detained by Azerbaijanis from the Lachin corridor Wednesday. He is accused of financing terrorism, participating in the creation and activities of armed organizations or groups not provided for by the legislation of Azerbaijan, and organizing the illegal arrival of a foreigner or stateless person to Azerbaijan.