Colonel Grisha Sargsyan, the president of the Union of Militsiya Special Forces Veterans, says
Talking about the antiunion referendum held in the USSR at the end of 1990 in an interview given to the Azeri Service of Radio Liberty in March, Ayaz Mutalibov, a former President of Azerbaijan, stated in particular: “I knew that this referendum was of no importance, all the same, the Soviet Union was collapsing, and the process would be carried through. One just had to seize that opportunity, and I showed the results to Gorbachev one day after the referendum, saying: ‘Look, the Azeri people take genuine offense at you, but they voted for the maintenance of the USSR.’ I said that this document had a certain price. Gorbachev asked what that price was, and I answered that there was his order to clear Karabakh of militants that was not carried out.”
This interview was immediately followed by the demand made by Colonel Grisha Sargsyan, the president of the Union of Militsiya Special Forces Veterans, of the Armenian government – the National Security Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the Attorney General’s Office – to prepare lawsuits in line with international law to be filed in the International Court in The Hague to hold Mikhail Gorbachev and Ayaz Mutalibov accountable for crimes against humanity.
In this regard, Aravot asked Grisha Sargsyan:
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* Mr. Sargsyan, has your demand gotten any response?
* There were responses both in writing and orally. Since the new Cabinet is not formed yet, and the Cabinet’s composition is not ready yet, i.e. in order that the started work is not left unfinished as a result of possible change, we, as a demander, will put forward facts after the new Cabinet is formed, in order that the latter present those to the International Court in The Hague. If the newly-formed Cabinet doesn’t meet our demand, we will demand the resignations of the heads of the above-mentioned institutions. We will demand, since we suffered from that operation. This is a powerful weapon that can be used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stop Azerbaijan’s hysteria and to eventually silence the latter.
* In your opinion, what were the main reasons for the fact that they allowed the former Azeri president to oppose the Azeri government and to send this kind of “message” to the world?
* He was offended, insulted that Azerbaijan deprived itself of everything. Mutalibov tried to return to Azerbaijan, but he was bashed by the national front and was faced with their intolerance. Mutalibov has been wanted in his fatherland for 15 years now.
He doesn’t visit his fatherland, in order not to be imprisoned. He is considered an enemy in his fatherland. And this “wild card” that he has given must be used.
* Isn’t it possible that our efforts to bring a lawsuit against Gorbachev in the international court will be in vain, and Mutalibov’s interview given to Radio Liberty will be described as libel and framing?
* If it is the case, let Gorbachev sue Mutalibov for libel and reaching a secret agreement. However, he doesn’t do that, since it is a real fact.
* A suit has been pending in the Republic of Armenia for around 3 years. The prisoners of war sued the government of the Republic of Armenia for not showing financial and moral assistance to them. What is the reason for delaying the verdict for such a long time?
* It has been pending for 3 years, because the government doesn’t know what to do. How can a state with a poor treasury compensate them? This is also a good opportunity to file a lawsuit in the international court and to demand that Mikhail Gorbachev pay financial and moral compensation to the families of those from the Militsiya Special Forces, Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Armenia, who were killed, as well as to those who were captured and injured, from his Peace Foundation. The prisoners of war are alive today and can give testimony. If Armenia is not able to settle this dispute, these prisoners of war will file a lawsuit in the European Court. The European Court will satisfy the demand and will say, “Yes, the man has suffered,” will award €100 thousand in compensation and will say, “Pay it,” and how will Armenia pay? Today Gorbachev’s second present struck at our weakness. Our enemy offered a great opportunity with their own hands, and we should seize it at the right moment.
KRISTINA MIRZOYAN
