Aravot’s interlocutor is Armen Martirosyan, a former Deputy of the National Assembly.
– There were only condemning statements from the European institutions, the USA, and Russia; there is no step to restrain Azerbaijan from any side. On the Armenian side, only individual media and figures talk about it. In addition to the government, opposition parliamentary and extra-parliamentary political forces silently follow the processes. Where will this lead us?
– The fact that the government of Armenia, the parliamentary forces, why not, also some extra-parliamentary forces do not react in any way has a simple reason. Nobody wants to upset Russia unless I say that Russia rules them because it is evident that what is happening today in Artsakh and on the borders of Armenia is directly related to Russia, as Armenia’s official strategic ally, as Armenia’s official CSTO member: It is clear that it is thanks to Russia’s open permission and participation that Azerbaijan can take similar steps.
If Russia reacts harshly, Azerbaijan will not take similar measures. But, since Russia is also trying to suppress Armenia through Azerbaijan, not only the authorities of Armenia but Armenia because I think the authorities of Armenia will do whatever Russia wants, it uses Azerbaijan to advance its interests. Therefore, the three entities you mentioned – the government, the parliamentary opposition, and a part of the extra-parliamentary opposition – would only react to what is happening for a simple reason.
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As for the implementation of other active steps by other international players, in addition to announcements, while waiting for specific action steps, we have made a lot of progress in statements, including within the framework of EU resolutions. Given the Russo-Ukrainian war and Azerbaijan’s gas supply to Europe, the problems with Iran, however, the West, as we imagine, is taking some steps.
– The oppositionists see the correction of the situation in a change of government, which they cannot achieve. Do we have to accept the solutions imposed on us? Is there a way out of this situation?
– Of course, there is a way out of the situation, and that way out is very complicated, with many steps. First of all, the departure of the authorities, mathematically speaking, is a necessary but insufficient condition. We can discuss a good situation when there is knowledgeable leadership in Armenia with a pro-state attitude. Unfortunately, we don’t have that, but all of that must start with a change of government.
The way is the government of national consensus, which must quickly implement several necessary steps, including establishing complete control over power structures in Armenia. Those cleaned structures should serve exclusively the interests of the state and not the interests of a few criminal oligarchic groups. Secondly, such a foreign policy should be conducted; as a result, Armenia will appear to have no allies or a small number of allies to a position where it will have strong and active partners.
Armen Martirosyan, a former Deputy of the National Assembly
To achieve a change of power, one of the necessary conditions is the availability of resources. The parliamentary opposition has the resources, financial and human. However, it lacks public support, and it is essentially due to their presence that this government is still alive, and the 2021 elections also showed that. Unfortunately, the parliamentary opposition is looking at Russia, and Russia needs a similar weak government in Armenia at the moment to be able to solve its problems.
The current government of Armenia is probably the government that provided the most services to Russia, including recently, there was talk again about CSTO observers when CSTO should not have sent observers to Armenia but supporting forces, but CSTO has a more pro-Azerbaijani attitude; if not to say: is completely pro-Azerbaijani.
Therefore, the process of power change is complicated. I see this only in the conditions of the unification and leadership of that part of the society, which was against both the current government and the previous governments, which I call the real opposition.
This opposition has a pro-state approach and sees the development of Armenia in the vision that the country should be based on the system of social solidarity, justice, legality, and national unity; all state and natural resources should serve to strengthen the state and ensure the security of the people.
Interview: Nelly GRIGORYAN
“Aravot” daily, 28.04.2023
