Category: 2022

With such methods, the opposition will not achieve a change of power in Armenia. Armine Adibekyan, an expert on Azerbaijan affairs, told this to a press conference Tuesday.

"If the [Armenian] opposition thinks that on September 2 the people will assemble with the slogan ‘Death to [PM] Nikol [Pashinyan]’ and the situation will change, then they are wrong. There is no change of power with such methods. If they know it, but don't do [it], then I can't say anything good about them," said Adibekyan.

She explained that in order to change the power, it is necessary to invest resources and invite specialists.

"People should be motivated to take action, and that motivation is formed as a result of correct, targeted work. The slogans of Paphos are of little interest to anyone. Area specialists should deal with these matters," the analyst emphasized.

Adibekyan is convinced that come September, the Armenian authorities will start a new round of repression.

The Armenian opposition plans to hold a rally on September 2, the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Independence Day anniversary.

Secretary of Artsakh Security Council Vitaly Balasanyan yesterday together with Azerbaijani officials visited Berdzor village and showed houses of its residents, which will be handed over to Azeris in the coming days, Berdzor resident Satik Asatryan told Aravot.am.

According to her, Berdzor residents gathered in the center of the village and suddenly they see Vitaly Balasanyan walking with Azerbaijani generals. "And it's not the first time he walks quietly with the Turks, we saw him at the Shushi checkpoints as well, how he talked nicely with them. And the Azerbaijanis are already looking at our houses, Vitaly showed them and assured them that no one would burn or tear down the houses, everything was normal. Can you imagine our condition?

"One very brave woman from our Berdzorians came up to Vitaly and said: Not only have you sold all our lands, but you also instructed the people not to cause any damage, for what? People have lived here for years, created here, and you say: close the doors with keys and hand them over to the managers. Have we also been sold together with Lachin? Vitaly looked at us in surprise, then they got into the car and drove away. Is it possible to do such a thing?" Asatryan complained.

"We tried to find out this information from Vitaly Balasanyan himself, but he did not answer our phone calls and our written inquiry," Aravot.am notes.

There are no red lines in Russia's relations with Turkey with regard to concessions on Armenia. Andranik Ispiryan, a Turkologist, told NEWS.am. According to him, Russia will make as many concessions as the situation allows.

"However, Russia is not yet in a situation to make such serious concessions, but we see that everything is developing very quickly, and there are no guarantees in connection with what may happen with Russia. But there is no such danger in the near future," he said. According to Ispiryan's assessment, the worse Russia is doing in Ukraine, the less important the South Caucasus, including Armenia, becomes for Russia.

This creates threats in the region to Armenia's detriment. "History shows that decisions in the region have often been made at the expense of our interests. This threat still exists today. As the problems in Ukraine deepen, the most serious threat is posed by Russia's presence in the South Caucasus. Turkey, realizing the complexity of the situation, wants Russia to make concessions in the region to the detriment of Armenia and in favor of Turkey and Azerbaijan in an attempt to maintain its position in other directions," he added.

The meeting in Sochi for both Turkey and Russia the expert called a success. "Military action in Ukraine was a salvation for Ankara, because before that there were threats to the preservation of Erdogan's power at the end of the elections in 2023. The sanctions against Russia became a new direction for the Turkish authorities to increase their authority both inside the country and in foreign policy. At the end of the Sochi meeting, there was talk about energy cooperation, Syria, the food problem as a result of military actions in Ukraine. All this gave Turkey serious financial, energy opportunities, it became a hub for Europe against the backdrop of the energy crisis. For Russia, more markets have opened up in Turkey.

This means that Russia manages to break through Western sanctions through Turkey. This has been a source of concern around the world. Since the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, relations between Russia and Turkey have been warming even more. But this relationship is not based on trust, but on mutual interests. Both countries are trying to spread their influence in the region, aiming for the maximum, but in the current situation they have to go for cooperation," noted Ispiryan.

Azerbaijan has an alternative to communicate with Nakhchivan through Iran via the Araks River, bypassing Armenia, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Ceyhun Bayramov told Turkish media.

He noted that Azerbaijan has begun construction of the first bridge across the Araks River in accordance with an agreement with Iran. By doing so, Azerbaijan has an alternative to connect with Nakhchivan through Iran via the Araks River, bypassing Armenia. "This will be implemented, whether Armenia wants it or not. This is a chance for Armenia not to be left out of regional development projects. It will make its own decision. If Yerevan does not make the right decision, it will do the most damage to itself," Bayramov added.

The current authorities serving Turkish-Azerbaijani interests are in fact implementing with them a program to expel Armenians from Artsakh, a statement of the "Armenia" bloc, received by Armenian News-NEWS.am, stated.

 "As a result of Azerbaijan's criminal aggression carried out in recent days, as a result of the policy of coercion and defeatist behavior of the current Armenian authorities, Armenians have once again faced the threat of expulsion from their homes.

Azerbaijan is once again violating the clause of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020. It does not provide for the surrender of settlements in order to build the road, nor does it contain a clause stipulating that the new road must bypass the settlements of Berdzor, Aghavno and Sus. This is genocide.

This is evidence of another flagrant violation of international law, and the willingness of the Armenian and Artsakh authorities to meet them gives us grounds to state that we are again dealing with agreements reached behind the backs of the people.

Peace offered at the price of unilateral concessions cannot be stable and long-term. Because of the inconsistent policy of the Armenian authorities there is no proper cooperation in any of the areas, be it in peacekeeping forces, the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, or international structures in general.

The series of defeats must be stopped as soon as possible, and this is possible only if the current government is removed. Only then can new losses be avoided and real peace achieved. The unification of the Armenian people has become an imperative today. A nationwide consolidation and trinity of Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora is necessary," reads the statement.

Azerbaijan's attack on the people of Artsakh represents the latest violation of the November 2020 cease-fire agreement, Canadian Senator Leo Housakos wrote on his Twitter account.

"I am disturbed by Azerbaijan’s renewed aggression, and I call on Canada and the international community to condemn it in absolute terms," he said.