Month: December 2020

Speaker Mirzoyan, Christian-Democratic Party head discuss ongoing developments in Armenia

Tambiyan Samvel

Save

Share

 17:33,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met today with President of the Christian-Democratic Party of Armenia Levon Shirinyan, the Speaker said on Facebook.

“We have exchanged views on the ongoing and upcoming steps for overcoming the current situation. We have also touched upon the return of the Armenian prisoners of war, the latest events in Artsakh and the ongoing domestic political developments in Armenia.

Mr. Shirinyan put a focus on the problems existing in the judiciary and the necessity of reforms for solving them.

Consultations with the representatives of various political forces will continue”, the Speaker said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Anti-Pashinyan demonstrators rally in “March of Dignity”

Vatche Chakhmakhchian

Save

Share

 17:35,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Citizens demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are marching in the streets of Yerevan in a procession called “March of Dignity”. The march is organized by the Homeland Salvation Movement – originally created by 16 political parties (1 parliamentary and 15 non-parliamentary). The procession began near the Sasuntsi David station.

The movement officially declared ex-PM Vazgen Manukyan as their candidate for Prime Minister who they say will organize early general elections.

But Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ruled out his resignation for now, saying on December 14: “I have clearly stated that I can abandon the status given to me by the people only based on the credible results of the people’s _expression_ of will. As long as such an _expression_ of will hasn’t taken place, I will continue fulfilling my functions of prime minister and I have obliged to do so honestly.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 15-12-20

Ani Tigranian

Save

Share

 17:44,

YEREVAN, 15 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 15 December, USD exchange rate up by 2.63 drams to 525.09 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.35 drams to 638.35 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 7.15 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.88 drams to 699.58 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 27.41 drams to 30913.54 drams. Silver price up by 2.69 drams to 402.72 drams. Platinum price up by 389.20 drams to 17337.85 drams.

Armenia’s ruling party does not rule out possibility of snap elections at any moment

Ani Kharatian

Armenia's ruling party does not rule out possibility of snap elections at any moment

Save

Share

 17:47,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. MP from ruling ''My step'' bloc Nazeli Baghdasaryan does not rule out possibility of holding snap elections at any stage, ARMENPRESS reports Baghdasaryan told the reporters at the parliament.

''The roadmap published by the Prime Minister contains a clause on the law on parties and the Electoral Code. The works related to the amendment of the Code started in the summer of 2019. There are issues that still need to be decided. This is a logical process. We do not rule out holding snap elections at any stage'', she said.

Parliamentary and extra-parliamentary political forces demand resignation of PM Pashinyan and holding snap elections.

Promotion of anti-Armenianism in Azerbaijan led to atrocities against Artsakh Armenians – Ombudsman

Karapet Navasardian

Save

Share

 19:34,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan received today former Mayor of French Lyon city, doctor Georges Képénékian and head of the Mothers and Children program of Mérieux Foundation Khalil Etoui.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, during the meeting Arman Tatoyan presented the atrocities committed by Azerbaijani armed forced during September-November against both servicemen and civilians.

According to the Human Rights Defender, targeting the civilian population of Artsakh and using banned weapons against them, involvement of mercenary-terrorists, Armeniaphobia and large-scale atrocities and inhuman treatment speak about Azerbaijani policy of carrying out ethnic cleansings using terroristic methods which continues up till now.

Arman Tatoyan emphasized his conclusion that for years anti-Armenianism and killing Armenians have been propagated in Azerbaijan for years, while the criminals who did it were awarded with state awards. All these are the factors that led Azerbaijani armed forces to grossly violate human rights in Artsakh, including by committing inhuman brutalities and atrocities, which has been reflected in the special report of the Defender.

The participants of the meeting stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of human rights protection and reached an agreement for cooperation.

Armenpress: Armenian FM delivers remarks at 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum

Kajoyan Gevork

Armenian FM delivers remarks at 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum

Save

Share

 20:58,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. It is critical today to promote a culture of peace to face the escalating aggression and violence that we have been witnessing around the world. The culture of peace can only be founded on strong international cooperation and the Ancient Civilizations Forum is an important platform in this regard as it brings together countries with thousand-year-old ancestral cultures and vast tangible and intangible heritage, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Ayvazian said at the online 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, FM Ayvazian particularly said,

‘’Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear friends,

I would like to convey my gratitude to the Government of Peru for convening this 4th Ministerial meeting. 

I would also like to welcome the participation of the United Mexican States as a new member of the Ancient Civilizations Forum.

What brings us together today is the vast history and rich cultural heritage of every nation here. This Forum has become a unique platform to cherish the histories and values that our civilizations have accumulated throughout the past millennia.

Armenia, as a cradle of centuries-old traditions and civilizational heritage, appreciates the important role of the Ancient Civilizations Forum as a platform for cultural dialogue and cooperation among member states and beyond. The turbulent and challenging year that we have faced has proven that now constructive dialogue and joint efforts matter more than ever. It has also reminded us that the heritage and wisdom of our ancient civilizations remain alive and relevant in today’s globalized world. Thus, today we have the opportunity to draw lessons and inspiration from our heritage and move forward together.

This Ancient Civilizations Forum allows us to prioritize the promotion of cultural diversity and peace. It enables us to reiterate our commitment to the goals of tolerance and diversity as prerequisites for fostering a culture of peace. 

Distinguished colleagues,
In an important platform like this, we cannot turn a blind eye to the alarming events unfolding in our region.

While the international community focused on the response and recovery from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, on September 27 Azerbaijan launched pre-planned large-scale aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh. In this war, Azerbaijan was directly supported by Turkey which transported mercenaries and foreign terrorist fighters to Azerbaijan and deployed them against the people of Artsakh.

As a result of this aggression thousands of objects of Armenian cultural heritage fell under the control of Azerbaijani armed forces. Nagorno-Karabakh has an extremely rich cultural and religious heritage with several thousands of monuments providing material evidence for the long history of Armenians in the region. Early-Christian churches from the 4th century and many archaeological sites are architectural wonders with ancient inscriptions, murals, and sculptures integral to the Armenian history and its contribution to global cultural heritage.

Armenia has ample reasons to believe that Azerbaijan will target the evidence for our millennia-old indigenous connection to this land by intentionally destroying the Armenian monuments and cultural sites. This threat is well justified, given the multiple precedents of Azerbaijan’s intentional destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage. During the course of this war, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces within a few hours struck twice the 19th century Holy Savior (Ghazanchetsots) Cathedral – a historic and religious symbol of the city of Shushi by precise striking drones attesting to the intentional nature of the attack. The same Cathedral and the St. John the Baptist church (Kanach zham) were vandalized and partially destroyed only a few days after the establishment of the ceasefire exemplifying the disrespect and threat towards the Armenian cultural heritage.

Azerbaijan has also been responsible for systematic cultural destruction for decades. Perhaps the most notorious act was the destruction of several thousand giant engraved cross-stones, called in Armenian khachkars, and tombstones of the medieval Armenian cemetery of Old Jugha in Nakhichevan, bulldozed by the Azerbaijani army during peacetime and far from the conflict zone. 15 years ago this month, the destruction of in total 89 medieval churches, 5,840 ornate cross-stones, and 22,000 historical tombstones was completed. There is sufficient evidence, including photos and videos, documenting this barbaric act.

 Targeting cultural heritage sites, especially in war situations, is strictly prohibited by several international conventions, including the UNESCO Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two Protocols. Armenia welcomes UNESCO’s decision to dispatch a technical assistance mission to Nagorno-Karabakh.

We acknowledge the value of cultural heritage and recognize that the loss of any item constitutes a harmful impoverishment of the heritage of all the nations of the world, and not only of the nation to which the cultural property belongs. This malicious intentional destruction of cultural heritage sites by Azerbaijan is a challenge not only to Armenia, but to the whole  civilized humanity, and it must be strongly condemned. 

Colleagues, 

It is critical today to promote a culture of peace to face the escalating aggression and violence that we have been witnessing around the world. The culture of peace can only be founded on strong international cooperation and the Ancient Civilizations Forum is an important platform in this regard as it brings together countries with thousand-year-old ancestral cultures and vast tangible and intangible heritage. 

A culture of peace is also indispensable for sustainable development. Culture has a transformative power as it is an essential component of human development, a source of identity, innovation, and creativity for all. A culture-based approach to development is key to fulfilling the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and in particular, to overcome the effects of the current COVID-19 crisis.

Furthermore, on a more positive note, we are currently witnessing unprecedented international focus on the recognition of the importance of cultural heritage protection for the preservation of international peace and the promotion of economic growth. These attempts must be strengthened and complemented.

In this context, we suggest the establishment of a network of cultural institutions, consisting of museums, historical and cultural reserves, as well as tourism organizations, that will allow us to better highlight the tangible and intangible cultural heritage and thus contribute to the development of sustainable tourism and promotion of economic recovery. Close cooperation between the member states of the Forum within international organizations, particularly the UNESCO, regular consultations and possible joint initiatives by our Permanent Delegates to UNESCO on issues related to the protection of cultural heritage may serve this purpose as well.

Armenia is willing to contribute to these global efforts, prioritizing the protection of cultural heritage, the promotion of humanitarian behavior, and the formation of respect for cultural diversity. These efforts must be combined with measures aiming to foster the growth of cultural industries of member states, both bilaterally and in collaboration with multilateral institutions such as UNESCO.

Finally, we welcome the adoption of the Ministerial Outcome Declaration of this meeting, which will give new impetus to our future joint initiatives and enhance our fruitful cooperation within this format.

Armenia remains strongly committed to the ideals and principles of the Forum and will continue to be actively involved in all joint efforts in this regard. 

Thank you''.

In Caucasus War, Russia Succeeded to Demonize Democracy

Tambiyan Samvel 
The National Interest


By Michael Rubin
Dec. 15, 2020

[The United States essentially forfeited its influence over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and allowed Russia’s Vladimir Putin to wield
power in the region.]

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joined his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilham Aliyev on  a podium in Baku on Dec. 10 to watch a
parade celebrating “Victory in the Patriotic War.” The procession
marked Aliyev’s latest celebration as he cements his legacy as the man
who returned territories Azerbaijan lost to Armenia in the 1988–1994
Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Aliyev is a short-term thinker. He does not yet understand the
tremendous price of his victory: Azerbaijan’s sovereignty. Russia and
Turkey have stationed forces inside Azerbaijani territory. Turkey also
reportedly controls several thousand mercenaries transported into
Azerbaijan from Syria, Libya, and other Arab countries. None of these
forces are under Aliyev’s control and both Moscow and Ankara can
easily leverage them against Aliyev and his family should he stray too
far from Erdoğan or Russian president Vladimir Putin’s dictates.

Aliyev may focus on Nagorno-Karabakh but for Putin, the game is much
bigger and extends across the Caucasus, if not beyond. It involves not
territory, but rather than nature of government. Alas, in the latest
Caucasus war, Putin won again as he signals to the region that Russian
authoritarianism offers security while liberal democracy brings only
chaos and territorial loss.

Neither the Trump administration nor the Obama administration before
it particularly cared about the Caucasus. Their strategic neglect was
unfortunate, not only because of the region’s strategic value but also
because of its cultural weight. In 301 AD, the Kingdom of Armenia
declared Christianity to be its official religion and so became the
oldest Christian country on earth. More importantly, the peoples of
the South Caucasus have both early and repeatedly embraced democracy,
a cultural attitude that Putin resents. Iranian democrats operating
largely from Tabriz, the capital of Iranian Azerbaijan, modeled their
1905 Constitutional Revolution after the successful Russian effort to
subordinate the Tsar to a legislative body earlier that year. In
subsequent years, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia each achieved
independence against the backdrop of the Russian Empire’s dissolution,
before subsequently losing it to Soviet aggression.

Each of the three independent countries in the Caucasus have now had
experiences with popular revolution and democracy. When Azerbaijan
seceded from the Soviet Union, Ayaz Mutallibov, the first secretary of
the regional communist party, simply took over as president but he was
ousted following a series of disastrous military and economic events.
On June 7, 1992, Azeris went to the polls in their first democratic
election. Abulfaz Elchibey won 60 percent of the vote in a field of
five, and formerly assumed power nine days later as Azerbaijan’s first
non-communist leader. Elchibey sought to pivot Azerbaijan’s foreign
policy away from Russia, but his efforts at setting Azerbaijan down a
democratic path floundered in the face of both Russian opposition and
a disastrous military campaign in Nagorno-Karabakh. Elchibey fell
within a year, fleeing into exile as former KGB operative and
communist functionary Heydar Aliyev assumed power, consolidating a
dictatorship and eventually handing power over to his son and current
leader.

Georgia, too, followed a similar path. Former dissident Zviad
Gamsakhurdia led protests and demonstrations which, against the
backdrop of the Soviet Union’s collapse, culminated in the restoration
of Georgian independence. Gamsakhurdia did not last long, however.
Opposition grew to his dictatorial tendencies. He sought to repress
South Ossetian nationalism which he accused the Kremlin of
encouraging. Ultimately, a Russian-backed coup unseated Gamsakhurdia
after less than a year in office, and he died under mysterious
circumstances in exile less than two years later. Former Soviet
foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze became president. He understood
the need to balance relations between Russia and the United States,
although he encouraged NATO’s eastward expansion and sought to orient
Georgia more in the Western camp. Ultimately, in 2003, after
parliamentary elections which international observers deemed
fraudulent, protestors in the so-called “Rose Revolution” forced
Shevardnadze’s resignation. Mikheil Saakashvili, a leader of the
revolution, dominated subsequent polls winning 96 percent in an
election with more than 82 percent turnout. Saakashvili interpreted
his landslide as a mandate to more firmly tie Georgia to the West.
Putin despised Saakashvili and, in 2008, intervened directly in
support of both Abkazian and South Ossetian secession efforts. The
Russian occupation kneecapped Saakashvili’s ambitions and his
popularity plummeted. In 2013, after losing a parliamentary election,
Saakashvili fled Georgia and subsequently moved to Ukraine where he
renounced his Georgian citizenship in order to avoid extradition on
corruption and abuse-of-power charges. In the post-Saakashvili-era,
Georgia returned to a more balanced foreign policy deferential to
Kremlin sensitivities and red lines.

Armenia, perhaps culturally the closest country in the Caucasus to
Russia, has followed the same pattern. Former journalist turned
politician Nikol Pashinyan shot to power against the backdrop in 2018
of mass protests against attempts by Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia’s
long-time prime minister, to extend his term. Pashinyan sought greater
foreign policy neutrality. While he did nothing either to challenge
Russia’s influence in Armenia or the presence of the Russian base in
Gyumri, both his willingness to cultivate the West and his rise in a
people power revolution were deeply offensive to Putin for whom such
uprisings are a nightmare scenario.

Armenians may be disappointed that Russia did little to protect them
against the Azerbaijani and Turkish onslaught in the most recent
Nagorno-Karabakh War but, in hindsight, protecting Armenia—and
especially the self-declared Artsakh Republic in Nagorno-Karabakh—was
secondary to reinforcing a lesson the Kremlin had previously applied
to Azerbaijan and Georgia: Democratic revolutions may bring short-term
political freedom, but they also lead to territorial loss and an
erosion of sovereignty.

In contrast, Putin has shown that dictatorships and
counter-revolutionary regimes succeed where their democratic
predecessors fail. Elchibey in Azerbaijan, Saakashvili in Georgia, and
now Pashinyan in Armenia all assumed office amidst popular acclaim.
All presided over significant territorial loss—Elchibey to Armenia,
Saakashvili to Russian-backed forced, and Pashinyan to Azerbaijan.
Both Elchibey and Saakashvili ended their political careers in exile
and disgrace and, if opposition parties in Armenia have their way,
Pashinyan may not be far behind.

Such Russian success need not have been foreordained. The United
States essentially forfeited its influence long before the first shots
were fired in the most recent conflict, and neither the White House
nor the State Department has done anything to regain leverage. Too
often it seems that U.S. officials fail to see the forest through the
trees and recognize the long game that Putin is playing.

*

Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise
Institute and a frequent author for the National Interest.

China, Turkey to deepen cooperation, strengthen relations

Lara Antonian 
Xinhua


Dec. 15, 2020

BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign
Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that China and Turkey should solemnly
commemorate their 50 years of diplomatic ties, deepen political mutual
trust and cooperation, and push their relations to a higher level.

Wang made the remarks in a telephone conversation with his Turkish
counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

During the call, Chavushoglu congratulated China on successfully
containing the COVID-19 epidemic, and praised the country's
achievements in vaccine research and development.

Turkey, which has announced an urgent procurement of Chinese COVID-19
vaccines, believes that China's vaccines are safe and effective, and
is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in this regard,
Chavushoglu said.

The Turkish side hopes to take the 50th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and China next
year as an opportunity to further deepen cooperation with China and
improve bilateral relations, said the Turkish foreign minister.

Wang, for his part, said that since the beginning of the year, China
and Turkey have worked closely in the provision of medical supplies,
sharing experiences in combatting the virus, and on the third phase of
clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine.

Seeing that the second wave of the epidemic is now spreading globally,
China is willing to stand firmly with the Turkish people until Turkey
defeats the epidemic, he said.


Turkey's decision to purchase Chinese vaccine reflects its trust in
China, and China is willing to assist Turkey whenever necessary, Wang
said.

Political mutual trust is the foundation of the strategic cooperative
relationship between the two countries, Wang said.

Leaders of the two countries have exchanged views on this topic
multiple times and agreed on mutual understanding and mutual support
regarding each other's core interests and matters of major concern, he
added.

China and Turkey share common concern in fighting terrorism and
maintaining national security and stability, Wang said, adding that
the two sides should oppose blatant "double standards" when it comes
to fighting terrorism.

Noting that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement is a global terror
group designated by the UN Security Council, Wang said that it is the
obligation of all countries to combat the group, and China is willing
to carry out more in-depth anti-terror cooperation with Turkey.

Chavushoglu said that Turkey is also a victim of terrorism and it
opposes any form of terrorism and the politicization of
counter-terrorism issues, and will strictly abide by the UN Security
Council resolutions that identify relevant international terrorist
organizations, he said.

The Turkish side will not allow anyone to undermine China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the Turkish foreign
minister.

TURKISH press: Azerbaijani prisoners return after 6 years in Armenian captivity

Meline Chalian
 İSTANBUL EUROPE 
DEC 15, 2020 10:49 AM GMT+3
Dilgam Asgarov (L) and Shahbaz Guliyev, who had been held captive by Armenia for six years, stand in front of a plane after being released and brought to Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.14, 2020. (AA)

Anumber of Azerbaijani prisoners, including two who had been held captive by Armenia for several years, were released Monday as part of a prisoner exchange.

According to the Azerbaijan State Security Service, the exchange of prisoners and hostages started according to a Russia-brokered agreement signed on Nov. 10 between Baku and Yerevan.

Azerbaijani prisoners and hostages were brought to the capital Baku on Monday.

Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, who had been held captive by Armenia for six years, were among those released.

In 2014, Asgarov and Guliyev along with Hasan Hasanov traveled to the Kalbajar region, which was under Armenian occupation at the time, to see the village where they were born and raised and to visit the graves of their relatives.

After they were spotted by Armenian soldiers, Hasanov was killed and Asgarov and Guliyev were taken hostage.

Hasanov's body was returned to Azerbaijan three months later while Asgarov was sentenced to life in prison and Guliyev to 22 years.

On Monday evening, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan announced that 44 captives were also returned to Armenia from Azerbaijan.

"At this stage, the Armenian captives whose captivity has been confirmed by Azerbaijan and the Red Cross are being returned. The process of finding and organizing the return of our other compatriots who are missing and have been possibly captured continues," Avinyan wrote on his Facebook page.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Monday 12 prisoners were handed over to Azerbaijan and 44 to Armenia.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

The conflict that erupted in September between separatists, backed by Armenia, and Azerbaijan over the mountainous region ended on Nov. 10 with a Moscow-brokered peace deal that saw Yerevan cede swathes of territory to Baku.

Russia has deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeeping troops to Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the cease-fire deal.

TURKISH press: Armenian PM Pashinian jeopardizes peace process by distorting Karabakh deal

Samvel Nahapetian
 ISTANBUL EUROPE 
DEC 15, 2020 11:53 AM GMT+3
Protesters march through the streets of Yerevan to demand the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian over a controversial peace agreement with Azerbaijan that ended six weeks of war over the formerly occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region, Yerevan, Armenia, Dec. 14, 2020. (AFP Photo)

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's efforts to distort details of the Nagorno-Karabakh cease-fire deal between Baku and Yerevan that ended six weeks of fighting over the region may jeopardize the peace process.

Pashinian is questioning the status of territories liberated by Azerbaijan from nearly three decades of Armenian occupation by indicating that the border between the two countries should be redrawn. His remarks were announced after an emergency meeting of the country's security council in Yerevan over the weekend.

The Armenian prime minister said the complete handover of Zangilan and Qubadli to Baku was not mentioned in the cease-fire deal and added that the handover of these two settlements should be limited to the point where Azerbaijani forces reached during their advance in the conflict.

“We have been conducting talks with Russia on this issue. Our defense minister conducts talks with Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on the question of who should control Zangilan’s and Qubadli’s areas close to the Armenian border. Several solution plans are emphasized,” Pashinian said Monday.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but was under the occupation of Armenian forces since a separatist war there ended in 1994. That conflict left not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also substantial territories around it in Armenian hands.

Heavy fighting erupted in late September and marked the biggest escalation of the decades-old conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, killing more than 5,600 people on both sides.

A Russian-brokered peace agreement that took effect Nov. 10 halted the violence and stipulated that Armenia hand over control of some areas it holds outside Nagorno-Karabakh’s borders to Azerbaijan. Baku also retained control over areas of Nagorno-Karabakh it has taken during the conflict, and both sides agreed to exchange prisoners, hostages and the bodies of the victims of the fighting.

In accordance with the agreement, nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have been deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh under a five-year mandate.

The peace deal was celebrated in Azerbaijan as a major triumph, and last week a massive military parade was held in Baku to mark it. In Armenia, the truce sparked outrage and mass protests, with thousands regularly taking to the streets to demand the ouster of the country’s prime minister over his handling of the conflict.

Pashinian has defended the deal as a painful but necessary move that prevented Azerbaijan from overrunning the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region. Thousands of people rallied in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, once again on Monday, chanting “Nikol, go away!” and “Armenia without Nikol!”