Araik Harutyunyan
Baku/07.08.23/Turan: The leader of Karabakh separatists in Karabakh gave an interview to local TV on Sunday, where he commented on the situation in the region.
In particular, Harutyunyan accused official Yerevan of recognising Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan. This recognition is the reason for the current "blockade" of Karabakh, he believes.
Harutyunyan admits that the statement of 10 November 2020 created hope in Karabakh that under the protection of Russian peacekeepers, Armenians would return and Karabakh could continue to exist as an independent entity, with its status to be determined later.
However, after the 2021 snap elections, Pashinyan not only recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, but also began the process of alienating it from Russia.
All this has brought Karabakh to the brink of "genocide," which has now turned into a "concentration camp," Harutyunyan said.
He believes Baku is using Karabakhis as hostages in order to get concessions from Yerevan on the Zangezur corridor issue. He also rejected the probability for the Karabakhis to use the Agdam road.
When it comes to calls for dialogue with Baku, Harutyunyan reiterated his previous position that such negotiations can be conducted with international mediation only.
The separatist leader concluded by saying that Karabakh will not give up the struggle for Karabakh's independence and called on Yerevan to refrain from steps and statements that question Karabakh's self-determination."No one has the right to question and limit our right to self-determination and the people of Karabakh are ready to fight for this right, which is supported by the Armenian people," Harutyunyan stressed. -02D-
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