Tigran Abrahamyan, deputy of the “With Honor” faction, and member of the RA NA executive body, said in a Facebook post. “The topic of the functions of the Russian peacekeeping mission located in Artsakh was discussed a lot, especially in the context of the closing of the corridor connecting Armenia. The debates began concerning it a month after the cease-fire that signaled the end of the war in 2020 when the villages of Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd of the Hadrut region came under Azerbaijani control. In March-April 2022, Azerbaijani troops violated the terms of the tripartite declaration and invaded Parakh in different areas of the Karaglukh mountain range. Did Russia have a function to prevent Azerbaijani aggression? Yes, because it contradicted the famous tripartite statement of November 9.
Should we raise the issue of withdrawing the Russian mission from Artsakh? No, we won’t. What would happen if Russia decided to remove the troops from Artsakh? Naturally, Azerbaijan will not be satisfied with only closing the corridor, and a significant threat will be created for the Azerbaijani attack. Is that threat now gone? There is, but the risk is less; there is also a question of scale.
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Even if the Russian Federation manages to postpone the attack and prolong the time with its presence, it is okay too; it is another thing that you need to use the time and prepare. What will change if an international peacekeeping mission is deployed in Artsakh, as the RA government says? And does the international community have such a desire? Whether the multi-national peacekeeping mission will prevent the new Azerbaijani aggression, no one can say for sure. It is necessary to work intensively with Russia more than ever to understand how and what we should do to restrain the possible aggression of Azerbaijan. What to do starts with direct contact and continues with steps to restore the military balance in the region. Of course, I exclude it in the case of this RA government because they are moving in the opposite direction. As for other international actors, most have a real influence on Azerbaijan, and we can change the situation with great desire and good work.