“The problem of Artsakh is not humanitarian; it is political. They are simply forcing us to integrate with Azerbaijan; that is, they are depriving us of our rights, the right to self-determination,” Margarita Karamyan, President of “Return to Dizak” NGO, told reporters yesterday during a protest near the Russian Embassy.
According to her, the statements of the Prime Minister of Armenia contributed to the situation in Artsakh. “It is not enough that they announced that they recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and then the Armenian deputy in the PACE announced that “we also recognize Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan.” But they did not stop there; the prime minister announced that if a war starts in Artsakh, Armenia will not intervene. In other words, the authorities of Armenia, violating the Constitution and committing national treason, contributed to the slaughter of the people in Artsakh. The latest statements of the Armenian authorities already mean that they are usurped; they do not serve to ensure the security and rights of our people. And the interests of other, even hostile countries are pursued in our country,” she said.
Margarita Karamyan mentioned that they decided to demonstrate in front of the Russian Embassy because, after the 2020 war, Russia recalled the people of Artsakh, promising to ensure their safety and prosperous life. “But Russia is repeating what it did in the 1990s to the Armenians living in Azerbaijan. And we see that today no Armenian lives in the Armenian settlements of Azerbaijan. In other words, they are conducting this depopulation policy with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Now, apparently, Russia has moved to harsher measures. About ten days ago, we were near the Hakari Bridge and noticed that there were no Russian soldiers on the road, which should be under the control of the Russian peacekeeping troops. And it was already clear to us that this road is also given to the Azerbaijanis. And the proof was not late; we saw that a person was kidnapped from the Red Cross car in front of the Russian soldier. In other words, Russia has already assumed the role of depopulation of Artsakh, along with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Yesterday, an Armenian living in the Hin Shen village was kidnapped again. That village is located on a road controlled by Russia. In other words, an Armenian was abducted from the territory under Russian control. Azerbaijan announced that it crossed its state border. Now, if Azerbaijan considers that the Lachin region, all of Artsakh, is the territory of Azerbaijan, how did that person cross the border? In other words, Azerbaijan recognizes that there is a border between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. Now we have come to the Russian Embassy to find out whether this country, which has taken over the security of Artsakh Armenians, wants to fulfill its obligations or has come to hand us over to Azerbaijan again. That is what we want to find out,” she added.
Rosa HOVHANNISYAN
