“A submissive backyard or an independent country?”: Pashinyan called on Armenians to make a choice

Armenia must be a free, sovereign, democratic state. This was stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, reports the News.am portal.

“This almost open and transparent choice is being made in the internal political field of Armenia, and every citizen must make a choice: he is a participant in the movement for independence or a submissive backyard,” Pashinyan noted, emphasizing that the events in Karabakh showed the ineffectiveness of the security systems in which Armenia participates.

Despite the tripartite agreement between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia from November 2020, the Armenians of Karabakh are still “under the threat of ethnic cleansing,” Pashinyan added, noting that if “real conditions” are not created for their residence on the territory of the unrecognized republic, then the Armenians will have to leave the region, and “responsibility for such a development of events will fall on Azerbaijan and the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan also called on Armenia’s partners to respect its sovereignty, emphasizing that Yerevan intends to strengthen its statehood and security. Therefore, Armenia is considering ratifying the Rome Statute, and this decision is not directed against the Collective Security Treaty Organization or Russia.

The day before, Pashinyan reproached Russia. In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, he said that Armenia’s dependence on Russia in the field of security is a mistake. According to him, “today, when Russia needs weapons and ammunition, it is clear that even if it wanted, the Russian Federation would not be able to provide for Armenia’s security needs.” The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains one of the problematic ones. On September 19, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched an “anti-terrorist operation” in the region. As a result, at least 200 people were killed and another 400 were injured, said Commissioner for Human Rights in Nagorno-Karabakh Gegham Stepanyan. On September 20, 6 Russian peacekeepers were killed when they were shot at from small arms in the area of ​​the village of Dzhanyatag. From 13:00 on September 20, a ceasefire was established in Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku announced the completion of the “anti-terrorist operation”, and Yerevan unilaterally announced the decision to lay down arms and cease fire.

On September 21, a meeting between Azerbaijan and representatives of Armenians in Karabakh took place in Yevlakh. Baku said it had provided representatives of the Armenians of Karabakh with a draft peace agreement.