Situation in Karabakh remains uncertain and tense

Baku/26.08.23/Turan: Separatist leader Araik Harutyunyan's statement on the need to open the Agdam road and start contacts with Azerbaijan caused the expected protest of a part of the Karabakh population.

This was followed by statements of his opponents about the inadmissibility of opening the Agdam road and the need to "hold on to the end" without giving up the slogan "independence or death".

The protest movement is led again by Russian businessman Ruben Vardanyan, who accused Harutyunyan of betrayal and unrealisability of his plans for reconciliation with Azerbaijan.

He was supported by the head of the "parliament", Dashnak David Ishkhanyan, who is trying to call on local law enforcers to stop the "anti-constitutional" actions of Harutyunyan's supporters.

Finally, the head of the "government" Gurgen Nersisyan also spoke, saying that contacts with Baku are possible, but with the mediation of Russia. He also said that it was not safe to meet with Azerbaijanis on their territory and such a meeting could take place on the territory controlled by peacekeepers.

Harutyunyan's supporters are still waiting and not taking decisive actions as they promised earlier. The near future will show which side will be the first to attack. -0-