Chief negotiator with Baku fired in Karabakh

Baku/07.01.23/Turan: The head of the "Security Council" Vitaly Balasanyan was dismissed in Karabakh. The corresponding decree was signed on January 7 by "president" Arayik Harutyunyan, the Armenian media reported.

Ararat Melkumyan  was appointed instead of Balasanyan;  who had previously been the first deputy of the "National Security Service" of Karabakh.

The reason for the dismissal was not reported, but local observers have repeatedly noted that there are serious contradictions between Balasanyan and the new leader of the Karabakh separatists, Ruben Vardanyan. This became especially noticeable at a recent rally organized by Ruben Vardanyan in Khankyandi, where Balasanyan defiantly did not appear.

According to unofficial information, Vitaly Balasanyan is the person with whom Baku maintained contact. So, it was Balasanyan who communicated with the Armenians in Lachin, urging them to calmly leave the city and villages around, without causing damage to housing. For this reason, Balasanyan was accused of betrayal and following orders from Baku.

In turn, the leadership of Azerbaijan also stated that he maintains contacts with the Armenians of Karabakh, but will not deal with Moscow's protege Ruben Vardanyan.

The dismissal of Balasanyan testifies to the intensified contradictions in the leadership of the separatists. The elimination of those who are ready to negotiate with Baku means that Vardanyan intends to continue his hard line of confrontation with the Azerbaijani authorities, which will inevitably  cause an armed confrontation. ----02B----