Samvel Babayan who returned from exile is going to raise the spirit of the Karabakh residents

Yerevan/26.05.16/Turan-ArmInfo: Former commander of the forces of Karabakh Samvel Babayan, who  returned  from  Russia to Armenia said that he intends to return to Karabakh. Babayan was actually in exile after he had no means to live in Armenia, and before that, he was expelled from Karabakh, where he spent nine years in prison for the attempted murder of "President" Arkady Ghukasian.

After losses in the April war, the Armenian leadership is desperately seeking resources to raise the morale of the army. It is the objective of a wave of cleansing and dismissal of generals and officers. Against this background, the Armenians needed a military officer whose reputation is not tarnished. Babayan one of these soldiers.

After returning to Armenia, he told the press that even in 2013 he wrote a letter to the Armenian President, warning him about the military threats of Azerbaijan. However, his recommendations were not heeded.

Referring to the April war, Babayan denied the accusations of the Armenian side against Russia. "In 90 years, we won the war, and complained in Baku that Russia helped the Armenians. This is a wrong tactic, and today we repeat that. Russia has never fought, not at war, and will not fight in Karabakh instead of us."

Commenting on the view that Russia gave its approval to Azerbaijan for fighting, Babayan noted that the policy of the so-called "kind" did not play, and cannot play a serious role. "Once we liberated Kelbajar, Zangelan, Fizuli, Jabrail, without any international "kindness." Just the contrary, we have done against the will of the superpowers and the international community. In international relations, the proverb is valid - force creates right," he said.

When asked why the Armenian authorities have not purchased the required amount of weapons in the Russian Federation, Babayan noted that after the meeting in Kazan in 2011, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan made radically opposite conclusions. Azerbaijan and earlier had already largely to modernize its arsenal, and after the meeting process received new impetus. The leadership of Armenia, on the contrary, considered that Azerbaijan refused the offer of settlement principles will be isolated and will not dare to launch military action, but miscalculated.

According to Babayan, Azerbaijan will not compromise in the negotiations and to continue military pressure. Armenia should urgently take measures. "For a complete modernization of the army and administration to a qualitatively new level it will take at least 10 months. This also applies to the procurement of modern arms and ammunition, he said. He further said that he was going to Karabakh, where it sees his "core mission, and everything else should solve the people."

According to observers, Babayan’s arrival exacerbate the situation in Karabakh, where his supporters from the military will try to return it to the command of the armed forces. This will inevitably cause tension and conflict with the rest of the manual. Babayan is also known for his tough stance against the liberation of the territories around Karabakh, and a sharp temper.

Therefore, in the near future is expected  Babayan’s unification with such radical military as Zhirayr Sefilyan, who favor the outbreak of war with Azerbaijan. There is every reason to believe that such a force sufficiently strong social base in Karabakh and in Armenia itself.

* Lieutenant-General Samvel Babayan was a leader of Karabakh separatists since 1992. He took part in the operation to capture Shusha, then he became commander of the Karabakh forces. He was one of those who signed the Bishkek protocol on ceasefire. In 2001 he was accused of organizing the assassination of "NKR President", and was  sentenced to 15 years in prison. -02D-