Why haven’t Armenians who witnessed this act of injustice against the elderly 68-year-old Vagif Khachatryan from Nagorno Karabakh kidnapped by an Azerbaijan man taken action? Why aren’t the streets of Yerevan flooded with people calling for Pashinyan’s accountability?

68-year-old Vagif Khachatryan from Nagorno Karabakh was kidnapped by Azerbaijan when he was trying to reach Armenia with the help of the Red Cross to get medical treatment. Now he is undergoing a judicial farce and humiliation in Baku. His only fault is that he is Armenian…

Avetis Babajanyan,

Just two weeks after Artsakh was depopulated by Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s ally and arms supplier, Israel, is trying to repeat the same in the Gaza Strip, with even more brutal and anti-human methods.

The occasion and reason are the same: fight against terrorists and terrorism. Azerbaijan also announced on September 19 that it is starting an anti-terrorist operation in Artsakh, because an Azerbaijani soldier was allegedly killed by a mine explosion. The Israeli army is destroying the cities and villages of Gaza, because the Hamas militants had penetrated into the territory of Israel and killed hundreds of civilians and soldiers, and captured more than a hundred people. If Hamas is a terrorist organization and does not hide that it uses terrorist methods of struggle, then Israel, destroying Palestinian villages and cities, turns into a terrorist state. Claims that the Israeli army is striking Hamas military camps or headquarters have nothing to do with reality. The circulating videos show

Just as Azerbaijan blockaded Artsakh for more than 9 months, blocking the supply of food and essential goods to Artsakh, depriving it of gas supply and partly electricity supply, in the same way Israel blockaded the Gaza Strip, cutting off even the water supply. Israeli Defense Minister Yoava Galant justified his country’s policy as follows. “There will be no electricity, food, fuel. we are fighting against humanoid animals and will act accordingly.” Unlike Artsakh, where 100-120 thousand people lived, the population of the Gaza Strip exceeds 2 million, unlike Artsakh, whose agriculture could provide at least a part of the food demand of the people of Artsakh, and had its own sources of water supply.

They can say that the Palestinians are to blame for the created situation, and they should also bear the responsibility for further developments, or, as it is customary to say. “Israel has the right to self-defense” and the Palestinians are deprived of any right. First of all, the Palestinians did not start this conflict – this conflict has been going on for more than a century, since the time when the Jews decided to return to the Promised Land and re-establish their state. At first, with money, and after the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, with weapons and violence, the Jews tore off the territories belonging to the Palestinians piece by piece and annexed them to their state. On the other hand, it is hard to believe the claims of Israeli officials that these Palestinian strikes were a surprise to them. and Israeli intelligence, reputed to be one of the best in the world, was unaware of the planned attack. Even if we consider that it was really a surprise, all the same, Israel will use it to the maximum to solve two important problems.

The first is the final closure of the Gaza issue. It seems that Israel has set the task of partially destroying the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip and displacing the rest and annexing it to Israel. It is possible that as a result of the blockade, hunger and thirst, humanitarian disaster and continuous bombings, Israel will reach the point where the Palestinians, having no other choice but to die of hunger and thirst, will turn to Egypt to open a humanitarian corridor and receive those who will survive after the Israeli bombings. : Even the most resistant and ready-to-fight nations break at some point, Artsakh and the people of Artsakh are a vivid example of this. Hunger and thirst can break any hero, at least killing him.

In addition to the occupation of another territory, Israel is solving a much more important problem, bringing the Israeli society out of the sense of comfort and tranquility. When the first Jews returned to Palestine and established their settlements, they had to enter into daily confrontation with the Arabs and be personally responsible for their own safety and right to life. The current Israeli society has degraded in that sense, believing that their technological progress has left others, especially the Palestinians, so far behind that the robots and computer programs they have created can ensure their safety, and they can enjoy the pleasures of life without any fear of backwardness and from the remaining Palestinians at the pre-human level. This attack by Hamas shocked Israeli society, showing that the security of the state and the nation continues to be under attack, and security and defense are everyone’s business. Even the destruction of the Palestinian identity in the Gaza Strip cannot bring perfect peace and security, on the contrary, it will increase tensions and challenges, Israel will continue to be in a hostile environment, and for that everyone, from the military to civilians, must be ready to face these challenges.

This is exactly the opposite of the policy pursued by Pashinyan, who endlessly preaches and implements a policy of refraining from confrontation and meeting all the demands of the enemy. If, by some misunderstanding, Pashinyan had found himself in the position of the head of the state of Israel, he would have been shot long ago, just as the then president of Israel Yitzhak Rabin was shot dead in 1995, only because the right-wing extremists accused him of signing the “Oslo Agreement” and thus recognizing Palestinian autonomy. : Rabin wanted to bring peace to his people by recognizing the right of Palestinians to live alongside Jews. Although the comparison with Yitzhak Rabin is not very appropriate, since he was the hero of the Six Day War in 1967, because under his command the Israeli army defeated Egypt,

Israel can be proud that it is so strong and has such international support that it can bomb Gaza with impunity, that it can leave millions of people, most of them children and women, without food and water, calling them “human-like animals” with whom can be done as desired. But is this the meaning of the existence of the state of Israel, to show the world that there is no right to justice, that only the right to force works, did the Jews declare themselves the chosen people of God, only to kill children, women and the elderly, and that is their divine mission. A nation that itself has been subject to deportation, persecution and genocide for centuries and millennia, now allows the state it created to commit the same crimes, being sure of its impunity.

Avetis Babajanyan

Dear compatriots:

Today, all of us in Armenia and in all the Armenian communities of the world, big or small, are facing a dangerous existential border and the catastrophic danger of losing our statehood.

And the main culprit of all this is Armenia’s Turk-centered authorities.

I have foreseen this catastrophic situation and fought against this government to the fullest since the day these scoundrels were brought to power.

It was in April 2018…

Today, unfortunately, our tragic losses continue, and these continue to remain in power.

For five years I have fought relentlessly against this destructive group, not discriminating between the battle platforms.

We all see that some have collapsed over time, some have stopped the struggle for various reasons, and some have left the struggle altogether.

This is their decision.

I have not stopped and will continue the struggle since 2018 and together we will achieve victory because we will act for our state and statehood, national unity and safe, dignified Armenia.

I announce the Armenian National Front nationwide movement and join the appeal of former RA Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan.

Dear compatriots, we must all first, unite, erase the black and white that oppose our people and raise our tricolor.

Let’s clap for the sake of the Homeland, for the sake of geographical Armenia, real peace, for dignified Armenia and national awakening and rebirth, for our victory and our faith.

Way to go lord.

By Wally Sarkeesian

Allow me to clarify my standpoint: I hold no regard for the likes of ruthless dictators such as Putin, Erdogan, Aliyev, or the infamous Pashinyan.

With that said, when you find yourself in a situation where you have an ally but are relatively weaker, it’s essential to handle the alliance wisely and leverage it to your advantage. Take, for instance, the case of Syria, which has been combating the same adversary as Armenia for the past 11 years. Thanks to Russian support, Syria has managed to survive and even now, Erdogan is seeking talks with Assad. However, it’s important to recognize that this situation stemmed from Pashinyan’s ill-conceived agenda, where he favored certain Armenians and sought to dismantle Karabakh. This agenda received backing from some corrupt European and American interests, as it aligned with their goal of diminishing Russian influence in the region. These are the facts, and merely blaming Russia or others won’t serve Armenia well.

Pashinyan appeared to be more cordial, accommodating, and cooperative with the perceived enemy, as evident from the videos and images we’ve seen. He even attended the inauguration of Turkish dictator Erdogan Armenia’s number one enemy and Pashinyan gave a standing ovation and applause. ro the dictator However, in Armenia, he adopted a more confrontational tone, referring to himself as a vengeful Armenian leader. This behavior raises questions about his leadership, with some characterizing him not as a true leader but as a person who gained power through questionable means. It’s worth noting that he was accused of involvement in the tragic events of 2008, where 10 people lost their lives, so it may not be fair to solely blame Russia for the current situation.

Armenia needed a leader who could navigate diplomatically, especially when dealing with larger nations. Small countries can’t afford arrogance or dictatorial behavior. Drawing from my experience in business, I practiced a diplomatic approach when dealing with competitors. I was so cooperative and constructive that my competitors ended up giving me business. This is how you manage a situation when your competitors are much larger than you. Thank you for taking the time to listen.

A humanitarian cargo shipment sent by the Islamic Republic of Iran for forcibly displaced individuals from Nagorno-Karabakh has arrived in Armenia’s Syunik region.

The cargo, which includes about 60 tons of humanitarian aid such as food, hygiene items, warm blankets, heaters, and more, was received by Syunik Marz Governor Robert Ghukasyan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Mehdi Sobhan in the regional center of Kapan.

This aid will provide much-needed support to those affected by the conflict.

GEOFFREY ROBERTSON

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….

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

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.