Month: December 2023

Yerevan warns of ‘ticking time bomb’ as Nagorno-Karabakh government-in-exile debate rages

Yeghisabet Arthur
Dec 14 2023
 

ByArshaluys Barseghyan
The office of the Representation of Artsakh in Armenia. Photo via Facebook.

A row between the Armenian Government and former officials from Nagorno-Karabakh is continuing over attempts to form a government-in-exile out of Yerevan.

On Monday, the leader of Ardarutyun,  a political party from Nagorno-Karabakh, told RFE/RL that anyone who opposed the continued functioning of Nagorno-Karabakh’s state institutions supported the ‘destruction of Artsakh’s [Nagorno-Karabakh’s]  statehood.’

Similarly, in a thinly veiled attack on the Armenian Government last week, a group of former MPs from Nagorno-Karabakh decried the ‘intensity of steps’ being taken and the ‘aggressive behaviour’ of ‘parties interested in the final closure of the Artsakh issue.’

The MPs made the statement following a visit to the Yerablur Military Cemetery in Yerevan on the anniversary of the disputed 1991 independence referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenian officials have grown increasingly hostile to the idea of proposals to form a government-in-exile, warning it could be used by Azerbaijan as a pretext to take military action against Armenia.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the ‘inevitability’ of Nagorno-Karabakh’s dissolution due to the negotiation status his government inherited after coming to power in 2018. And on Monday, in response to the statement by former MPs from Nagorno-Karabakh, the deputy chair of the ruling Civil Contract Party, Gevorg Papoyan, accused them of posing a direct threat to Armenia’s security.

‘They signed a capitulation agreement, disbanded the Nagorno-Karabakh army, handed over weapons to Azerbaijan, dissolved the Nagorno-Karabakh National Assembly and came to Armenia — now they want to hold a parliamentary session here?’

‘Is this a ticking time bomb in Armenia?’, asked Papoyan.

After Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh in September, forcing the government’s surrender, President Samvel Shahramanyan issued a decree to dissolve the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and all of its state institutions.

Earlier in November, Papoyan had stressed that Armenia could not allocate funds to Nagorno-Karabakh’s state institutions.

‘We should not do such things that would give the other side an opportunity to challenge the territorial integrity of Armenia and torpedo the peace process’, he stated.

Other officials in Armenia have voiced similar sentiments.

In mid-November, the speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan, said that establishing a government in exile would be a ‘direct threat and a blow to Armenia’s security’.

And in late November, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan said that the establishment of a Nagorno-Karabakh government in exile was unnecessary.

‘There is a Republic of Armenia, whose institutions are functioning. What function should they [Nagorno-Karabakh] perform? Armenia protects the rights of Artsakh Armenians’, Khachaturyan told reporters.

However, since fleeing the Azerbaijani takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh in September, many officials have insisted that they continue to represent the region’s former ethnic-Armenian population.

In late October, Nagorno-Karabakh’s last president, Samvel Shahramanyan, disowned the surrender document dissolving Nagorno-Karabakh, stating that a ‘republic created by the people cannot be dissolved by any document’.  

A few days later, Shahramanyan and a group of former Nagorno-Karabakh officials gathered in Yerevan to discuss ‘preserving the statehood’ of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The meeting was organised by the Committee for the Preservation of Artsakh Statehood, founded by Suren Petrosyan, an Armenian opposition figure.

Petrosyan dismissed concerns that a government in exile based in Armenia could put the country at risk of an Azerbaijani attack because the Armenian government would not be involved in a Nagorno-Karabakh administration.

For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.

https://oc-media.org/yerevan-warns-of-ticking-time-bomb-as-nagorno-karabakh-government-in-exile-debate-rages/

Balance of power in South Caucasus still shifting after Karabakh collapse

Shushan Frangulian
Dec 14 2023
By Zachary Weiss in Tbilisi 

Azerbaijan’s September 2023 offensive into Nagono-Karabakh only lasted two days, but the repercussions of the conflict have shifted the balance of power in the South Caucasus. Armenia and Azerbaijan have different military equipment, regional territory, and international relationships since the offensive began that will shape the future of the conflict. Some experts predict that more war could now follow.

Leonid Nersisyan, a defence and political analyst at the Applied Policy Research Institute of Armenia, called Armenia’s reduced military means following the conflict “a painful loss,” that could have significant implications for a future conflict. 

“After the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were disbanded, all the equipment they had was handed either to Azerbaijani troops or to Russian peacekeepers.” He continued: “Equipment wise, that’s a big loss because there were several dozen tanks and artillery pieces and some air defence assets, too. The personnel in general are withdrawn to Armenia, except a few commanders who were arrested by Azerbaijanis and taken to Baku.”

In the short Azerbaijani offensive, Armenia lost hundreds of fighters, four tanks, numerous armoured fighting vehicles, 29 towed artillery, four command posts and stations, and more anti-aircraft guns and missiles, according to Oryx, a defence analysis site. For a small nation that relies on military equipment shipments that have been crucial for its defence, the loss of fighters and equipment is significant. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, had minimal equipment losses, losing one tank and one truck.

The Artsakh Defence Army used to function as a buffer between Azerbaijan and Armenia proper, which Nersisyan noted was important for Armenia’s defence. The army was disbanded following Azerbaijan’s takeover of Karabakh, a condition set by Azerbaijan for the war to end.

“There is no Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army, so that equipment withdrawn to Armenia would have even boosted up the capacity to defend Armenia’s proper territory.” Instead, the forces gave up their weapons to Russian peacekeepers, as the peace agreement outlined.

Not only did Azerbaijan’s military reduce the power and territory of Armenia, but it is also in a stronger position to attack Armenia again, according to Nersisyan. He noted, “They don't have any enemy in their rear anymore.” Now, Azerbaijan can build military bases and position equipment in Karabakh territory.

Changing partners

Azerbaijan and Armenia’s international partnerships could also shift Armenia’s ability to defend itself and the viability of a future Azerbaijani attack, to varying degrees. Nersisyan predicted that the roles of several foreign nations serving as arms exporters and consultants to Azerbaijan would not change, but Armenia’s international relations related to its own defence has already shifted more drastically. 

Nersisyan noted that Armenia had received the vast majority of its arms from Russia after several defence contracts were signed in the years before the 2023 conflict, but Russia was not adhering to its own agreement – due to its own military constraints in Ukraine. In November 2023, Pashinyan publicly accused Russia of keeping weapons that Armenia had already paid for, and said that relying on Russia as a defensive partner had been a mistake.

Azerbaijan, on the other hand, receives arms exports and consulting from Israel and Turkey, which is unlikely to change as a result of the September conflict and its aftermath. Israel sold Azerbaijan Barak-8 surface-to-air missile systems, which were tested just a month before Azerbaijan’s offensive into Karabakh. In early December, Azerbaijan purchased the Barak MX air defence system, which is capable of launching missiles 35, 70, and 150 kilometres. It was a continuation of Israeli arms sales of Barak weapons to Azerbaijan, which began in 2012 with a $1.6 billion contract that included the sale of Barak-8 missiles in 2016. 

Armenia is also preparing its military for more conflict. According to Nersisyan, Armenia is now looking to India as “the biggest Armenian partner in defence” in light of Russia’s absence. In November, it was reported that the Indian company Indian Munitions Limited would supply 150,000 grenade units to Armenia. India also plans to supply Armenia with 90 advanced towed artillery gun howitzers over the next three years as part of a $155.5 agreement, six of which were already sent.

Second is France, a newer partner, which has already begun its shipments of armoured vehicles and radar technology. Nersisyan also noted that the European Union could provide Armenia with non-lethal military aid. Josip Borrel, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, noted in November that the European Union must “be very much vigilant for any attempts of destabilisation of Armenia, internally and externally”. The European Union’s Council of Foreign Ministers agreed to consider supplying Armenia with military aid as a part of its military assistance programme. Although Armenia has previously been denied military assistance from the European Union, Azerbaijan’s attack has highlighted the necessity of better Armenian defence.

While both Azerbaijan and Armenia replenish and improve military armaments for future conflict, Nersisyan believes that conflict could realistically spike again, most likely on a small scale that would only last a few days. He believes Azerbaijan could start another conflict to push Armenia to make arms concessions, which would be unlikely to trigger as wide an international response as the September conflict.

Azerbaijan could also use its superior military positioning to push for control of the road connecting Azerbaijan to its exclave territory, wanting access without customs checks and with Russian troops guarding it. Lastly, Azerbaijan could restart their attacks to regain old Soviet Azerbaijani enclaves within Armenian territory.

More optimistically, Nersisyan says a large-scale attack similar in scale to Azerbaijan’s September 2023 offensive was possible but unlikely.

Sports: Armenia’s Hripsime Khurshudyan wins gold at IWF Grand Prix

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – Dec 14 2023

Hripsime Khurshudyan of Armenia has captured a gold medal at the IWF Grand Prix II in Doha, Qatar

The athlete lifted a total of 232kg (106kg in snatch and 126kg in clean and jerk) to win the gold medal in the women’s 87kg weight category on Wednesday.

The 87kg bronze went to Tatev Hakobyan who lifted 230kg (107kg in snatch and 123kg in clean and jerk).

Armenia's Aleksandra Grigoryan earned a bronze medal at the IWF Grand Prix earlier last week.

The IWF Grand Prix II Weightlifting 2023, a Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier, is being held in Doha from December 4 to 14.

Pashinyan: Armenia ready to restore railway link with Azerbaijan

Hovik Karapetian
Panorama
Armenia – Dec 14 2023

Armenia is ready to restore the railway communication with Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday.

“The first is the northern route, which connects Azerbaijan’s Kazakh region with Armenia’s Tavush Province. The second is the southern route linking the western regions of Azerbaijan to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic," Pashinyan said, addressing the ministerial meeting of the Landlocked Developing Countries held in Yerevan.

"We believe that Azerbaijan's western regions can be connected with the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and the outside world also through the northern route,” he added. 

The premier said that highways can have northern, middle and southern routes, which will open up new opportunities for the region.

Priest: ‘Artsakh children love life and their homeland more’

Yeghisabet Arthur
Panorama
Armenia – Dec 14 2023

Children displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) ask Santa Claus for toys, stationery, smartphones and, of course, peace. Not only children, but also adults dream about it, as peace has been the most cherished dream for several decades now because of Azerbaijan.

The Artsakh Operational Headquarters in Yerevan on Thursday hosted a New Year festivity featuring students of the Hadrut Children and Youth Creative Center. The event brought together 100 children. On December 15 and 17, a New Year celebration will be organized for 200 more children.

Ira Tamrazyan, head of the Hadrut Children and Youth Creative Center, told Panorama.am that before their forced exile from Artsakh triggered by Azerbaijan’s attack in mid-September, their sponsor, Canadian-Armenian Ardem Tutunjian, had offered to organize a celebration for 100 children on the eve of the New Year.

"But now we are all in Armenia. Our friend Ardem decided to organize an event for 300 children instead of 100," Tamrazyan said.

For children aged 1 to 12 today was really a holiday: a clown, games, Santa Claus… What else do children need to have fun?

Father Mesrop Mkrtchyan, a clergyman of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, noted in his turn that they had suffered many ordeals, sometimes losing hope.

"But today, at this hall, we can rejoice together with our children at the coming of the New Year. Our children should not experience distress, they are no different from children living in other parts of the world. They may even be more charming and beautiful. Our children have greater love for life, for the homeland," he said.

Serzh Sargsyan: No statement can dissolve Artsakh Republic

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – Dec 14 2023

Armenia’s third President Serzh Sargsyan has shrugged off the statement on the dissolution of the Artsakh Republic signed by its President Samvel Shakhramanyan.

He signed a decree to dissolve Artsakh's all state institutions from 1 January 2024 in line with the ceasefire deal with Azerbaijan in September.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic cannot be dissolved by anyone's statement,” Sargsyan told reporters following a court hearing in his trial on Thursday.

Separately, the ex-president refused to comment on the would-be peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"How can I make any comments If I haven't seen the document?" he said, calling out the Armenian authorities for failure to disclose the agreement.

Mikael Vardanyan donated the maternity hospital of the Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center the modern medical equipment amounting 116 million drams

Elizabeth Jabejian
Panorama
Armenia – Dec 14 2023

The maternity hospital of the Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center of the RA Ministry of Health has been equipped with modern medical equipment of European, American and Japanese production.

Thanks to the financial support of benefactor Mikael Vardanyan, the maternity hospital already has new neonatal incubators, a neonatal portable ultrasound system, a high frequency neonatal ventilator, birthing, neonatal resuscitation and medical electric-hydraulic operating multifunctional tables, a neonatal electroencephalograph and MRI patient monitoring system.

Benefactor Mikael Vardanyan donated 116 million drams for the purchase of 15 life supporting equipment.

Opposition activist Avetik Chalabyan again rejects ‘politically motivated’ charges

Sonya Jalatian
Panorama
Armenia – Dec 14 2023

Opposition activist Avetik Chalabyan, a member of the Hayakve initiative, on Wednesday again rejected the charges levelled against him as politically motivated.

His comments came after the prosecutor dealing with his case asked the Yerevan court to find Chalabyan guilty for trying to pay students of the Armenian National Agrarian University to participate in anti-government protests in Yerevan back in 2022 and ban his political activities, including holding rallies, for over two years.

“The whole process is politically motivated,” Chalabyan told reporters after the court hearing, vowing to challenge any ruling in his case in higher courts.

“I’d like to call attention to the prosecutor's paradoxical idea that the failure to plead guilty is an aggravating circumstance. This is something absurd because everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and it has nothing to do with the gravity of the act in question,” he claimed.

Opposition leader: Azerbaijan must be held to account for crimes in Artsakh

Jack Hunanian
Panorama
Armenia – Dec 14 2023

Azerbaijan must be held to account for its crimes in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in mid-September, Armenian opposition leader Seyran Ohanyan insists.

“The whole world should know that in a follow-up to Azerbaijan's criminal policy, the 10-month blockade of Artsakh by Baku which began in December 2022 was culminated in the illegal “anti-terrorist” operations, as a result of which genocide through forced exile was actually committed against the people of Artsakh,” Ohanyan, head of the opposition Hayastan parliamentary faction, told a press briefing.

The MP emphasized that the Artsakh issue has yet to be resolved through talks. "There is no alternative to negotiations," he said.

"Every Armenian realizes that the Artsakh issue has not been resolved. Only those with no sense of homeland can think that the time and resources spent on it were pointless, denying the fact that for more than a quarter of a century Artsakh was the guarantor of Armenia’s freedom and security," Ohanyan stressed.