Is it necessary to save Khankendi from ”hunger" or from separatists? - Uzeyir Jafarov in the "Difficult Question"

Baku/09.05.23/Turan: It became known from the messages of the Armenian telegram channels that residents of Khankendi, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, will be required to receive coupons for the purchase of bread, which should indicate a critical situation in this region. The distribution of these coupons began on September 4, when each person will be allocated about 200 grams of bread per day.

It is noteworthy that the first two trucks with flour provided by the Azerbaijani Red Crescent Society to the Armenian population of Karabakh were placed along the Aghdam-Khankendi road. These trucks, carrying a total of 40 tons of flour, have been standing in front of the Russian peacekeepers' post since August 29. Representatives of the Red Crescent Society presented a cargo quality certificate to the Russian peacekeepers temporarily stationed on the territory of Azerbaijan. However, negotiations on the delivery of aid to the Armenians have not yet led to progress due to the obstacles created by those who control the self-proclaimed regime in Karabakh. Armenians have even set up tents in Askeran and are blocking the road, which makes it even more difficult to deliver aid.

The question arises: what steps can be taken to ease the situation and establish cooperation with separatist forces and Karabakh Armenians?

Military expert Uzeyir Jafarov spoke on this issue during the "Difficult Question" program. Jafarov claimed that by drawing international attention to the alleged humanitarian catastrophe in Karabakh, the Armenians had achieved certain goals. He expressed skepticism about the transition to a coupon-based bread distribution system, considering it as a potential facade. Jafarov believes that Russia is actively involved in organizing these events.

"What was Russia trying to achieve here? The progress achieved in the negotiations was actually nullified, largely due to the actions of Nikol Pashinyan. Now Russia and Armenia seem to be dissatisfied with each other," Jafarov said. However, this formal mutual discontent is designed to consolidate Russia's presence in the region. He referred to the comments of the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, who stressed that Moscow could not approve Pashinyan's statements about the failure of the peacekeeping mission in the South Caucasus. Peskov confirmed Russia's integral role in the region, saying that it cannot simply leave Armenia.

Jafarov also referred to Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, who rejected criticism of Russia in light of Armenia's recognition of Karabakh as the territory of Azerbaijan. Zakharova stressed the contribution of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to ensuring regional security.

According to Jafarov, these statements by Peskov and Zakharova carry a double message directed at Azerbaijan and Turkey. He argued that the ongoing events in Karabakh correspond to Russia's strategic interests in the region. Russia and Armenia are not fulfilling the important points of the statement of November 9, 2020, providing for the withdrawal of all Armenian armed formations from the territory of Azerbaijan and the opening of all transport communications. Without the implementation of these agreements, the establishment of peace remains problematic.