Category: 2022

Armenian MP Tigran Abrahamyan of the opposition With Honor faction has commented on Thursday’s visit of the NATO and EU defense attachés accredited in Armenia to the Defense Ministry airbase where SU-30SM aircrafts are deployed.

“It turns out the purpose of the visit was to check whether the fighters were in the home base or, as the Azerbaijani and Turkish media reports suggested, they were taking part in hostilities in Ukraine,” the lawmaker wrote on Facebook.

“The fact that the Armenian authorities enjoy no authority, respect or trust in the world has long been nothing new. Our tragedy comes from this as well.

“The fact that many NATO and EU member states don’t react, don’t take practical steps in response to Azerbaijan’s aggression in Artsakh, its occupation of the sovereign Armenian territory in the post-war period, but wonder if our aircrafts are still there, is now causing indignation.

“The subjects showing interest towards our region are, of course, guided by their own interests, while the Armenian authorities are following the developments in observer status, waiting who, moving back and forth, will slap or kick them, as long as the Civil Contract party remains in power and nothing interferes with brotherhood with the Turks,” Abrahamyan said.

Armenia does not currently have a real prime minister, according to military and information security expert Karen Vrtanesyan.

“You may have heard this question many times: ‘Who will replace Pashinyan?’ At first glance, it may seem like the right question, however there is a very important nuance which is missing in the wording of the question,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday.

“Try to add to the question, and the problem will immediately become clearer. Put it like this, “Who will hold the Armenian prime minister’s post instead of Pashinyan?” or, “Who will be the head of the occupation regime instead of Pashinyan?”

“In fact, Nikol Pashinyan is not the prime minister of Armenia. He is the head of the anti-Armenian occupation regime, who is sitting in the prime minister’s office, receiving the salary of the premier, wearing the shoes for the prime minister… He is a lawyer and henchman of Ilham Aliyev and Erdogan.

“At this point, the Republic of Armenia does not have a real prime minister, an official who would serve as the head of the Armenian state. With the inertia of the old times, we continue to believe the office door signs. However, there are no more Armenian officials in those offices, but servants of the enemy occupation regime,” the expert said.

Armenia’s former Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan claims the government’s proposal on a “mirror withdrawal of troops” from the Armenian-Azerbaijani border would be disastrous for the security of Armenia and Artsakh.

In a public post on Facebook on Friday, he pointed to the recent Azerbaijani invasion of Artsakh’s settlements, adding it is the result of the government’s idea of the “mirror withdrawal of troops”.

“This idea was reprehensibly moved to the public plane, was pushed forward and became part of an agenda that benefited Azerbaijani interests,” Tatoyan said.

“The possibility of withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from our villages and intercommunal roads has been consistently nullified, separating security from the individual and his/her rights, reducing everything to the military and political sphere.

“The situation has been and continues to be exacerbated by senior Armenian officials, who have given the Azerbaijani authorities grounds for troop reinforcements with their irresponsible and politically motivated statements. They make official statements in line with their political interests, conceding to Azerbaijan territorial rights, ignoring the rights of the population of Armenia and Artsakh to security, life and other rights,” he stressed.

At the same time, the ex-ombudsman underscored, the Azerbaijani troops continue their criminal acts, opening fire at Armenian border villages, seizing their lands and houses, thus deliberately making life unbearable for the people.

Tatoyan says the Armenian government avoids providing clarifications to the public over the proposal on the withdrawal of troops.

“Does the proposed “mirror withdrawal of troops” concern only the incursions of Azerbaijani forces in Gegharkunik, Syunik Provinces, or also other settlements? If this refers only to incursions, what solutions are proposed for the safety, property and other rights of people in other areas? The government’s conduct is simply reprehensible,” he said.

“Moreover, uncertainty prevails not only in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora, but also in the international arena. Therefore, the “mirror withdrawal of troops” is only a political idea devoid of professional grounds, and in the current situation it poses a serious threat to our homeland, the security and the vital rights of all of us,” Tatoyan stated.

As a result of the recent Azerbaijani criminal acts, the normal life in Khramort and Parukh communities of the Askeran region of the Artsakh Republic has been disturbed.

According to the estimates of Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan, more than 400 people have been affected, including women, children and the elderly.

Some of the people displaced from the settlements after the Azerbaijani attack in late March are temporarily accommodated in the apartments of relatives and friends, while others have been provided with temporary housing by the government.

The Artsakh Public TV has made a report about the displaced residents of Khramort and Parukh communities, who are still waiting to return to their homes.

Armenia’s new Ambassador to Egypt Hrachya Poladian handed over his credentials to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

During a brief conversation, Poladian conveyed Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan’s warm greetings and best wishes to Fattah el-Sisi, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

He said Armenia was looking forward to the Egyptian president’s official visit to the country.

In turn, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi noted that he would take the opportunity to visit Armenia. Also, he praised the traditional Armenian-Egyptian friendly relations and wished good luck to the Armenian ambassador in his diplomatic mission.

A regular sitting of the Security Council chaired by President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan was held in an expanded format on Friday, the presidential office reported.

In his opening remarks, the president first and foremost noted that the frequent holding of Security Council sittings recently is conditioned by the military-political situation in the republic, especially by the developments in the eastern part of Artsakh. Touching upon the carried out actions and future plans, Harutyunyan expressed his appreciation to the Defense Army, other power structures and the volunteers, who managed to fulfill the set tasks in a short period of time, suspending the enemy’s advance.

“We understand that their goal was to capture the whole of Karaglukh. We should state that the main height of Karaglukh, the highest point, is under our control, but as of today some important hills are under the control of the Azerbaijani troops. Our goal is to withdraw the Azerbaijanis to their initial positions. Our demand and request to the peacekeeping troops was that the status quo stemming from the trilateral statement should be restored. We will never change this claim,” Harutyunyan said.

He expressed confidence that the purpose of the provocation fomented by Azerbaijan was first of all aimed at discretization of the role of the Russian peacekeeping forces.

“We consider that the Russian peacekeeping forces continue to carry out their mission, notwithstanding that episode,” Harutyunyan said.

However, the Artsakh leader stressed that vigilance should be maintained at a high level until it is clear that Azerbaijan will not resort to such provocations again.

“For that very reason, we will take radical and decisive steps in terms of our self-defense in the future,” Harutyunyan said.

Minister of Defense Kamo Vardanyan delivered a report on the current operative-tactical situation on the line of contact.

During the discussion of the issues on the agenda, Harutyunyan gave a number of instructions to the responsible officials of the relevant structures.