Category: 2022

It’s impossible to protect the rights of Artsakh’s residents in conditions of Azerbaijan’s policy of Armenophobia, Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan said in his interview with journalists.

Answering a question about the fact that despite all the atrocities committed by Azerbaijan, the collective West considers it as a “partner” and doesn’t apply sanctions, Gegham Stepanyan said: “This is a bitter reality. The protection of human rights is subordinated to political and geopolitical interests. We have repeatedly voiced this concern in various discussions.” According to him, with this approach, tons of documents created after World War II become meaningless.

“But that doesn’t mean we should refuse to go our own way. We should always stick to our chosen path – the right to self-determination, the right to security, the right to life, the right to preserve cultural values. This is perceived at the public level. That is, if those who make political decisions constantly refer to political gains, then at least for those who are guided by the public interest, they understand the agenda of defending rights,” he noted.

“My task is to make ordinary people in Europe, the US and Russia understand that it’s impossible to protect the rights of Artsakh’s residents under Azerbaijan’s policy of Armenophobia. In this context, I can say that my impression is that the Russian peacekeepers before coming to to Artsakh had one perception of our conflict, but having been here, faced with different circumstances for a year and a half, they changed their views on many issues. That’s why we say to the representatives of international organizations: come and get acquainted with the situation on the spot,” Gegham Stepanyan said.

Over a year and a half, more than 100 criminal cases have been opened on cases of violation by Azerbaijanis of the rights of residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan told reporters.

“Even if it is not possible to bring the perpetrators to justice, it is necessary to show that Azerbaijan is consistently pursuing a policy of hatred towards Armenians. Because according to international law, the people against whom the policy of hatred is carried out must be saved.

That is why Aliyev is trying in every possible way to emphasize that such cases are sporadic, isolated. That is, he wants it not to look like a program in the eyes of the international community. Our task is to represent the reality, the systemic nature, the deliberate, coordinated nature of actions, from one center, the Azerbaijani authorities,” the Ombudsman said.

Asked about the international search for Azerbaijani criminals, he noted that the data on the criminal cases initiated are transferred to the Armenian prosecutor’s office and the representative of the Russian prosecutor’s office at the peacekeeping contingent. However, for the search it is necessary to identify the perpetrator.

This is the biggest problem, since Azerbaijan does not cooperate and does not provide data on the persons who committed the crime.

Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said speaking at the international economic forum in Davos that Azerbaijan has additional amounts of energy resources to increase gas supplies to Europe.

When asked about the future impact of the Southern Gas Corridor on Azerbaijan-Europe relations, the minister noted that along with Europe, Azerbaijan is also one of the main suppliers to Georgia and Turkey.

He also called energy resources the biggest dilemma today.

“At the moment Azerbaijan is particularly demanding of energy resources, we have them, and we are trying to provide the market. The importance of Azerbaijani gas is an issue that cannot be ignored,” Prime quoted him as saying.

According to Jabbarov, the opening of the Trans-Caspian corridor will also play a big role for energy and freight transportation from China to the West and back. In this regard, he noted that relevant joint investment projects with neighboring countries have already been prepared.

Another joint Turkish-Azerbaijani military drill has started in the Kars province bordering Armenia. According to Turkish Hurriyet newspaper’s website, military drills called “Heydar Aliyev – 2022” will continue until 26 May.

The purpose of the exercise is to develop cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries. Azerbaijan participates with tank and other units.

The attitude of the Artsakh authorities to the statements about the fate of the Republic and the people of Artsakh during the negotiations and discussions in various formats was clearly and repeatedly expressed by the President and the National Assembly, saod Press Secretary of the President of Artsakh Lusine Avanesyan.

The full recognition of the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to self-determination is not subject to reservations or concessions. The exclusive owner of this issue is the people of Artsakh, she told Armenpress.

The international recognition of the independence of Artsakh remains the guideline of the authorities. Any status within Azerbaijan is unacceptable.

Artsakh is faced with the task of restoring its territorial integrity.

According to her, the government of Artsakh builds and implements its policy in accordance with the declaration of independence and the constitution of the Republic of Artsakh, in cooperation with all partners.

Armenian News – NEWS.am presents the digest of top news of protests in Yerevan as of 23.05.22:

• Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Brussels during the weekend to take part in a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev and European Council president Charles Michel.

After the negotiations, Michel made a statement informing that the first meeting of commissions on demarcation and security will be soon held on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Besides, the prime ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will soon be back to discussing the unblocking of regional communications.

The sides also discussed humanitarian issues in detail, including demining, the release of detainees, and the fate of those missing.

Armenian political analysts have noted that in Michel’s statement Nagorno-Karabakh is referred to as Karabakh, which is unprecedented and raises doubts that Armenia and Azerbaijan have already agreed in Brussels on recognizing Nagorno Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

Later both Yerevan and Baku stated they have confirmed the structure of national delimitation commissions both to be headed by prime ministers. Meanwhile, following the Brussels meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called his Armenian and Azerbaijani colleagues to discuss border delimitation issues.

• Armenian soldier received a gunshot wound as the Azerbaijani units opened fire on military bases of the Armenian Armed Forces located in the eastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on Sunday.

The soldier was given the necessary treatment, his condition is satisfactory.

• Nagorno Karabakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan noted that a new road bypassing the Lachin corridor is under construction illegally. It will reportedly go around Armenian villages of Berdzor and Aghavno, both situated along the current Armenia-Karabakh corridor.

“There is no final decision on the fate of the Armenian population of these settlements yet, said the ombudsman insisting that the Armenian population remain in those villages.

Now there are about 150 people in Berdzor and the school does not function. Before the Azerbaijani aggression in 2020, about fifteen hundred people lived there.

• Another joint Turkish-Azerbaijani military drill has started in the Kars province bordering Armenia. According to the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper, military drills called “Heydar Aliyev – 2022” will continue until 26 of May.

The purpose of the exercise is officially stated to be the development of cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries. Azerbaijan participates in the drill with tanks and other units.