It is not a victory yet

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- A joint statement on the Karabakh conflict has been signed. In your opinion, what will this statement give to the region?

- This is still a statement. This joint statement is not yet some kind of agreement, contract or agreement. Such a statement has no legal basis. However, despite this, information is already spreading. Although it may turn out to be untrue. Allegedly, Russian troops from both Armenia and Azerbaijan have already been sent to the region. Because this is not based on serious sources, I will not speak about this issue.  I can say that the statement will give the region only one thing. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the conflict zone between them will completely come under the control of Russia. Control over Azerbaijan will be partially limited. In Armenia, most likely, a change of power will take place, after which Armenia will completely come under the control of Russia.

- Will this joint statement end the conflict completely?

   - No.  It will not complete. Even if there is no legal basis for this statement, even if any agreement is signed in the format of this statement, the conflict will not end. Even if this statement does not have a legal basis, in the same format within which any agreement will be signed, it will not end the conflict. This could be the freezing of the conflict. Most likely, it will so. Because here the priority is the interests of Russia, not the interests of Azerbaijan or Armenia. The purpose of the signed agreement is to return the conflict to the status quo. This always creates a fertile ground for igniting a conflict. Because on both sides there is hatred for each other. This is ethnic hatred. Neither side will forget what happened during the war. Therefore, the conflict can flare up again at any time. The deployment of Russian military forces here under the guise of peacekeepers violates the sovereignty of Azerbaijan, serves to take Nagorno-Karabakh under the direct control of Russia, and increases the influence on Armenia. Thus, Russia will be able not only to incite, but also to manage this conflict.

- You said that the arrival of Russian peacekeepers in the region would increase Russia’s control over Azerbaijan and Armenia. What is the purpose here?

- This means not only the strengthening of Russia's control over Azerbaijan and Armenia. This generally means strengthening Russia's control in the South Caucasus region. The course of the conflict according to this scheme shows that the main goal is for Russia to enter the Middle East. The outline of this plan has already begun to appear. Putin openly stated in his address that communications would be taken under control. This means that Azerbaijan will not be the owner of its own infrastructure on its territory, even in areas where Azerbaijanis live outside of Nagorno-Karabakh, for example, in Jabrail, where these communications are located, or in an area, that borders Iran. This is highly likely to be the case. The main mission of the Russian peacekeepers will be to reduce the influence of both Azerbaijan and Armenia on the conflict region, as well as to take the entire region under Russian control; naturally, primarily communication.

- The statement reads about the release of Aghdam, Kelbajar, and Lachin. How will the issue of other occupied lands - Khojaly, Khankendi, Khojavend and Agdere be resolved?

- The village of Askeran, located near Aghdam, is also not mentioned. Its fate is also unknown. It should be understood that Khojaly and Khojavend, Agdere and Khankendi remain under the control of the Armenians. In fact, under the control of Armenia. That is, under the control of the Russia-Armenia tandem. Because there is a point there, which says that Lachin passes to Azerbaijan, but the Lachin corridor is controlled by Russian peacekeepers. Russian border troops and special-purpose forces of the Federal Security Service. This means that the territories where Armenians live are isolated from Azerbaijan and protected by Russia. It is very difficult to say what projects Russia will implement there in the coming years. Because all this will depend on Russia's plans. Russia has purposefully created a state called Armenia so that it can maintain its presence in the Caucasus region. The foundation of this state was laid 200 years ago, and today the strengthening of its positions continues. Taking into account the fact that there is a power in Yerevan that does not serve Russia's interests, Russia directly takes this key region under its control. In a sense, Azerbaijan took part of the lands from Armenia and transferred them to Russia, including part of its sovereignty.

- The situation in Armenia is no longer rosy. We already see people's protests. If Pashinyan is overthrown, will the statement lose its force?

- One of the details of the plan was the overthrow of Pashinyan and the bringing to power of a more loyal person. This has already started. Pashinyan was supposed to sign. After signing it, the newcomer will lay the responsibility on the previous government and tell the Armenian society that Pashinyan, as prime minister, as the head of the legitimate government, has put his signature. The country has international obligations, including contractual obligations. Therefore, they cannot object to this. This question will remain as it is. Because with the support of Russia, according to its plan, any political party or their coalition that came to power in Armenia will become a puppet of Russia. Naturally, all this will be discussed with them in advance. I think that what is stated in this statement will remain in effect.

-Where is Turkey in this matter? Does it exist and will it exist at all?

- Currently, Turkey does not appear in this part of the process. It is not known whether Turkey exists or not. Anyway, it is not mentioned. It seems that Russia agrees with Turkey that Turkey should remain in other parts of Azerbaijan in order to realize its strategic, political and economic interests. Russia must ensure its interests in accordance with what is indicated in this statement. I do not exclude the existence of such an agreement. In any case, neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia won here. Turkey won partly, and Russia won the most. The conquest of Turkey is that it can stay in the region. This is not possible in the end. Russia may eventually oust Turkey from the region as well.

- Who do you think became the winner of this war? The Azerbaijani side marks this as a victory. Can this really be considered a victory for Azerbaijan?

- Russia became the winner in the war. It is clear that in Azerbaijan this is presented as a victory. Because it is also a political issue. Therefore, people need to be told that this is a victory for Azerbaijan. The liberated land is, of course, the victory of Azerbaijan. However, in the end, this victory was not carried to its logical conclusion. On the contrary, it was completed in an even worse form. Azerbaijan has no reason to consider this a victory. Unfortunately, the signing of such a statement is not a victory at a time when Khankendi was already empty, because of operations carried out by the army, the lands were taken at the expense of the blood shed by soldiers and officers.

- How was this war supposed to have a successful end? Was there a better option?

“As I said, this is not a successful end to the war. The Azerbaijani army took control of many key regions in various directions. In particular, it liberated Shusha, which is considered the strategic point in Nagorno-Karabakh. At the expense of the blood and life of soldiers, officers, and the army. It was impossible to retreat. Khankendi was devastated. There is no population left. After Shusha, it was quite easy to take Khankendi, but this did not happen, and suddenly a statement was signed. How do you call it a successful ending? In no case can you call it that. The end of the war could be called successful when at least Khankendi was taken under control. After that, negotiations could be conducted. Take control of the part of Azerbaijan's border with Armenia passing through Karabakh. This would mean a successful ending. If an agreement is reached in the form specified in the statement, it will be one of the unsuccessful options for Azerbaijan. If not the most unfortunate one. I repeat once again that this statement has no legal basis. Because this is a common statement. All the steps taken within the framework of this statement, except for the ceasefire, are illegal.