Karabakh separatists in despair over lack of international support for their illegal aspirations

Baku/14.07.23/Turan: Karabakh separatists, despairing at the lack of international support for their illegal aspirations to tear the region away from Azerbaijan, have come up with nothing new but to call on local residents to a rally in Khankendi on 14 July.

The day before, Gurgen Nersisyan, who calls himself "state minister" of the separatist regime, recognised the hopelessness of the situation into which the Karabakh Armenians have driven themselves.

"Our internal resources will soon run out and we will start collecting the bodies of those who died of "hunger" and "cold". Being in a complete 'blockade' in Artsakh, we watch with surprise how peacekeepers fulfil their needs using helicopters," Nersisyan complained, blaming even the Russian peacekeepers.

At that, the separatists arrested the former "security secretary" of the illegal regime, Vitaly Balasanyan, his son, brother and nephew in the evening of 13 July. It is reported that Balasanyan, who is accused of abuse of power, was beaten during the arrest.

Despite his involvement in war crimes against Azerbaijanis after the 2020 war. Balasanyan maintained contacts with Azerbaijani structures in resolving a number of humanitarian issues, and in particular the search for the remains of dead Armenian military personnel and the return of residents who entered Azerbaijani military-controlled territory.  He was also involved in resolving issues related to the construction of an alternative road to bypass the town of Lachin and the surrender of the town of Lachin and two villages of the district under Baku's control.

However, after Russian oligarch Ruben Vardanyan arrived in the region, Balasanyan was removed from his position and a criminal case was opened against him.

This was obviously a threatening message to local officials to deter them from contacting the Azerbaijani authorities.

Balasanyan's arrest in the current situation may be related to the separatists' fears of opposition to their failed policies that have driven the Karabakh Armenians into a hopeless stalemate. -06В-