In November and December 2020, the President of the Russian Federation announced that Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan. I learned from the press about those announcements that Russia is going to make such an announcement. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted this in an interview with Public Television, and referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement that it was Armenia that renounced Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan.
“And that statement, in my understanding, contradicted the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020. Next, in 2021, the events of Sotk-Khoznavar took place, Azerbaijan invaded the territory of the Republic of Armenia, we naturally appealed to the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Russian Federation on this issue; moreover, separately with the CSTO, we have another legal treaty base with Russia. Zero response occurred.
“Moreover, I want to draw your attention again to the events of Sotk-Khoznavar. I resigned at that time, the National Assembly was dissolved, and [parliamentary] elections were scheduled for June 20. After that, or during those days, the Russian Foreign Minister visited Armenia, left Yerevan for Baku, and left Baku for Moscow. And Sotk-Khoznavar took place. There was a great probability that the Armenian government would react differently, as a result of which elections would not take place in Armenia, which would actually mean the dissolution of the Republic of Armenia.
“We understand its political consequences, don’t we? At that time, we were accused a lot that we are not doing it. We are not doing it, but we understood that the problem of dissolution of the Republic of Armenia was set. Zero reaction from CSTO and zero reaction from Russia. Moreover, even then our opposition said that ‘you did not petition well. Instead of this article, they petitioned with another article, that’s why there was no reaction.’
“And there is another accusation that the Armenian army did not fight, why should the CSTO fight? After that, the events of November 2021 took place. At that time, the Armenian army fought. Again zero response from CSTO and Russia, after which a declaration was signed between Russia and Azerbaijan in February 2022, which said the following: Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are raised to a strategic level on the basis of recognizing each other’s territorial integrity, inviolability of borders.
“Moreover, the parties undertake not to perform such actions which, according to the interpretation of the other party, contradict their national interests. After that, the Parukh events took place in Nagorno-Karabakh. Zero response from Russian peacekeepers. After which, in 2022, by the way, the following happens: the Russian foreign minister’s special representative, [Igor] Khovaev, comes to the region with proposals. And among those proposals is the following: ‘let’s postpone the issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.’ We say we agree. Khovaev hands that document to us in August and goes to Baku to hand that document.
“The next time Khovaev comes to the region on September 11 or 12, 2022. He goes to Baku first. Notwithstanding these precedents, if such a proposal is brought, we agree with this proposal. Azerbaijan rejects that proposal. This is unofficial. And to get an official answer, Khovaev comes to the region on September 11 or 12, 2022. First he goes to Baku and then he comes to Yerevan. That is, when Khovaev arrives in the Republic of Armenia, Azerbaijan’s attack on Armenia takes place. Again zero response from Russia, despite our official requests, and zero response from CSTO.
“And on October 6, 2022, based on the Almaty declaration, we record our readiness to go to peace with Azerbaijan. And we record that between Armenia and Azerbaijan, what Russia recorded between itself and Azerbaijan; that is, the reaffirmation of the provisions of the Almaty declaration took place. And that was the only way to reaffirm the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia.
“Was I able to describe the cause and effect relationships? That is, essentially, what was the problem in connection with the CSTO? They say: ‘Let us come, there be monitors.’ We say: ‘If monitors come, what should they do?’ There is no answer.
“And secondly, we say specify the zone of responsibility of the CSTO. The Republic of Armenia is a member of the CSTO, right? The Republic of Armenia means a zone of responsibility of the CSTO. Specify which that zone of responsibility is because we have a situation where that zone of responsibility has been violated; moreover, we did not propose this perception. The basis of our agreements was that the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia is a red line for the CSTO and the Russian Federation.
“We say the red line has been violated, they say no, as if the red line has not been violated. We say: ‘Very well, this paper, this pen, draw the red line you said where it passes from?’ Moreover, we say: ‘If you don’t agree with our interpretation, no problem. You draw that red line with your hand, let’s figure out where that red line passes from.’ They say, ‘We can’t draw that red line.’ It means you don’t have a red line in Armenia. What should you do when you come to Armenia?,” the PM said.
