Araik wants to open road to Aghdam: coup matures in Karabakh

Baku/22.08.23/Turan: A separatist leader plans to open a road to Karabakh via Aghdam.

This has caused protests by his opponents, including Russian businessman Ruben Vardanyan and the Dashnaks.

In turn, armed supporters of Araik Harutyunyan are threatening to disperse the "government", the "parliament" and create "the crisis council", handing over full power to it.

It all started a couple of days ago, when Araik Harutunyan announced that he intends to resign.

After that Ruben Vardanyan accused him of deceiving the public and changing his mind about retirement. In a video message to Harutunyan, he said: "You have failed to become either a leader or commander-in-chief and this is due to your behaviour."

"At the beginning of the week you assured that you would resign and you don't need to be persuaded as you have already made your decision. In a meeting attended by eight people, many people did not believe you. And you have made it so that nobody believes the words of the head of state, that your words are empty bells," he continued.

He further noted that Harutunyan has crossed the "red line" and the people will not forgive him. At the same time, he did not disclose what he meant by that.

An answer to this question appeared in the Armenian media, which claim that Harutunyan has agreed to co-operate with Azerbaijan and is ready to open a road to Karabakh from Aghdam. According to "Past" publication, a meeting between representatives of Karabakh Armenians and the Azerbaijani authorities will be held in Barda in the near future, where all issues will be agreed upon.

These plans provoked protests not only from Ruben Vardanyan, but also from the opponents of reconciliation with Azerbaijan represented by the Dashnaks. Attempts by the head of the Karabakh "parliament" David Ishkhanyan to block steps to normalise relations with Baku resulted in armed supporters of Harutunyan seizing the "parliament" and threatening Ishkhanyan with execution if he did not calm down.

This was stated by "militia commander" Karen Matevosyan in his video address. According to reports from Karabakh, members of this military unit are putting pressure on Harutunyan's opponents and threatening them with reprisals.

Apparently, opponents of the idea of reintegration with Azerbaijan do not intend to give in and are also ready for decisive action. It is not yet clear what the police of the security forces, and first of all the Karabakh army, will be like.

It is not yet clear how events will develop, but Yerevan's silence suggests that Armenia does not intend to interfere in this process. At the same time, the aggravation of the situation and the beginning of armed confrontation between various groups may accelerate Baku's plans to disarm the illegal armed formations in Karabakh. -02B-