What does it mean to abandon international legal claims against Azerbaijan? It means that if an Azerbaijani soldier—a representative of the state—enters an Armenian settlement and beheads an unarmed elderly Armenian man, the Armenian state does not consider it a crime.
At least one such alleged criminal, Kamil Zeynali, now claims that the “enemy state”—Armenia—has dropped the international arrest warrant it had issued against him.
Of course, it’s quite possible that government propagandists or even the Armenian Foreign Ministry will argue that the person beheaded by the Azerbaijani sadist wasn’t “Armenian,” but “from Karabakh,” and therefore, the Armenian state bears no responsibility. But this, to put it mildly, is a bizarre interpretation of what a state is supposed to do. It neither diminishes the gravity of the crime nor justifies the authorities’ indifference.
Let’s temporarily set aside the moral and legal dimensions of abandoning such claims and focus on the political implications. One could argue that a deal is being made—one that goes beyond morality. Perhaps something is being given up in exchange for something else. Say, you withdraw your claims, and in return, the other side expresses regret over killing a sleeping man with an axe or beheading an unarmed old man.
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But that doesn’t happen.
Azerbaijan glorifies its bloodthirsty sadists—and then, paradoxically, accuses Armenia of “fascism.” If the slaughter of Armenians is justified, then what peace, what “new era” are we even discussing?
Is there perhaps an unspoken arrangement: Armenia agrees not to press charges, and in return, Azerbaijan agrees not to prosecute Artsakh’s leaders? Does such a deal exist?
No. On the contrary—absurd accusations against our compatriots are only growing.
You drop your claims, and the other side signs a peace treaty with you—whatever form it may take. But no, even that doesn’t happen. Instead, new preconditions are imposed.
So what, exactly, is the point of turning a blind eye to the atrocities of the enemy?
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
