2023 September 23

Daily news wrap-up

Nagorno-Karabakh turns into ghetto deprived of electricity, fuel, food, ability to travel and find family members // UN Security Council: Possible outcomes // Interviews & analysis // No party disputes Yerevan election results // Economic Freedom Index
by ar_david_hh

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video shows daily life in Nagorno-Karabakh capital Stepanakert

Azerbaijan has turned Nagorno-Karabakh into an open-air ghetto. The power grid was shut off by Azerbaijani soldiers after the capturing of civilian settlements and infrastructure.

The Lachin corridor remains closed to travelers and unobstructed aid, despite the World Court's order for Azerbaijan to open it.

Azerbaijani soldiers have set up roadblocks on all major arteries and opened fire at vehicles passing through inner roads in Nagorno-Karabakh (e.g. at peacekeepers), making it impossible for residents to safely travel to nearby concentration camps where they could receive some amount of food and assistance.

Thousands of civilians spent last night under open air in a dysfunctional airport near the capital. Azerbaijan has long threatened to shoot down any non-peacekeeping aircraft that lands or departs the airport.

Armenia has called for the deployment of UN-mandated peacekeepers and an international fact-finding mission in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Stepanakert today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzQmGBxoXEI

[source,](https://factor.am/692349.html)

Washington Post article by ex-chief prosecutor at ICC Luis Moreno Ocampo: "Call what is happening in Nagorno-Karabakh by its proper name"

>In international law, the Genocide Convention of 1948 makes it clear that one way to commit the crime is by “deliberately inflicting on [a] group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part” (Article II c). By blocking the Lachin Corridor, Aliyev turned Nagorno-Karabakh into a vast concentration camp for 120,000 Armenians. This week’s military intervention added killing (Article II a) and causing serious bodily and mental harm (Article II b) to the ledger.

>The world must call the crime by its proper name. Resistance to using the term “genocide” has been a long-standing problem in international affairs. In April 1994, most U.N. Security Council members refused to label the mass killings in Rwanda as genocide. Little has changed in 30 years.

>Azerbaijan’s ambitions extend beyond Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 2010, Aliyev has regularly talked about Armenia itself as “Western Azerbaijan,” echoing long-standing Azerbaijani claims that Armenia as a whole is an illegitimate state. As recently as December, he said that “present-day Armenia is our land.”

[full](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/22/nagorno-karabakh-genocide-armenia/)

foreign military attachés in Azerbaijan have arrived in Stepanakert

Representatives of Russia, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and other countries visited Nagorno-Karabakh capital Stepanakert to observe the situation and the [disarmament process](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/269865). Nagorno-Karabakh defense army units are returning from combat positions to their permanent military bases.

[source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/269859) [source,](https://a1plus.am/hy/article/462049)

the surrender of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh could allow Russia to collect thousands of heavy and light weaponry and use them against Ukraine

Azerbaijan and Russia have forced Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to lay down their arms. Thousands of pieces of weapons have already been surrendered. Russia claims the loot will be transferred to Azerbaijan but some believe they will end up using them against Ukraine. Interview with analyst Hovsep Khurshudyan:

REPORTER: What can you tell us about the UNSC session?

KHURSHUDYAN: It helped us understand each country's position and the changes since the last session. The process of holding a session itself serves as a preventative and restraining measure. FM Mirzoyan's statement was very harsh this time, with some scolding language aimed at the UNSC over its prior inaction.

REPORTER: Did the countries change their rhetoric?

KHURSHUDYAN: Some Armenians have interpreted the speeches by France and the U.S. as milder, but that is not the case. This time the U.S. urged for an international mission to be dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh. This is a new element.

It's still necessary to convert speech into action. It won't be easy because Azerbaijan and Russia will resist the entry of an international mission into Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia brags that its peacekeepers are successfully handling the situation. This claim was bolstered by the advertisement of the death of several peacekeepers.

On the other hand, Germany has joined Armenia. If during the previous session Azerbaijan had Turkey while Armenia had the EU, this time Armenia had the EU and Germany.

Germany was represented by a ranking official: the foreign minister. She gave a strongly anti-Azerbaijan speech. This was followed by German PM Scholz accusing Azerbaijan of breaking its promises not to attack. This was a blow to Azerbaijan's reputation as a trustworthy actor.

China gave a negative speech and promoted Russia's stance that this is an Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. They are dragging Armenia into this.

We had a better chance of a resolution after the previous UNSC session but we saw a cautious approach at the time. For example, the U.S. was afraid that the adoption of a resolution would prompt Azerbaijan to abandon peace talks and attack. But this was a miscalculation because that attack ended up occurring regardless.

Today we should focus on the possibility of sending an international mission to Nagorno-Karabakh, the framework of NK-AZ negotiations, and the continuation of AM-AZ negotiations.

The Yevlakh negotiations haven't ended yet but we already see images of Nagorno-Karabakh soldiers surrendering weapons. We don't even know what their final destination is. It's possible that Russia will take them to Ukraine. It's unfortunate that it was impossible for Nagorno-Karabakh to use this equipment for self-defense.

REPORTER: Could Russia actually do it?

KHURSHUDYAN: Very much possible. Russia has always viewed Nagorno-Karabakh as a tool to promote its interests and not as a homeland of people who need protections secured under the Nov. 9 agreement.

What is the Kremlin's message to Armenians today? If you don't overthrow Pashinyan, there will be a genocide. We just need the Kremlin to admit that they will be the organizers if their orders aren't carried out in Yerevan.

As one famous Russian writer once said, Russia is a land of lords and slaves. Armenia is the slave. This is how the Kremlin views relations with other states. We saw this in Ukraine, too. Fellow Slavic Ukrainians suddenly became "Benderite fascists".

REPORTER: Will the pro-Russian opposition be able to remove Pashinyan?

KHURSHUDYAN: Not without a foreign intervention. They were hoping for Pashinyan to drag Armenia into this conflict so Armenia could sustain losses, spelling doom for Pashinyan.

REPORTER: During the UNSC session, Germany stated that no foreign power should attempt to destabilize democracy in Armenia. Are they referring to ongoing pro-Russian protests?

KHURSHUDYAN: Isn't it obvious? The only person from the Russian regime who hasn't openly supported the protests yet is Vladimir Putin himself.

REPORTER: For the first time, the FM of Armenia called for the deployment of UN-mandated peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh. Is this realistic after Nagorno-Karabakh has agreed to surrender arms?

KHURSHUDYAN: Quite the contrary. The disarming of the Nagorno-Karabakh army would contribute to the deployment of UN-mandated peacekeepers because they are more defenseless now. FM Mirzoyan called for UN-mandated peacekeepers but did not specify from which country or countries. Will they be Russians but now with a mandate or a mixed contingent? Not specifying was the right decision.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usttdTG-B50)

analyst Stepan Grigoryan about the UNSC session

STEPAN: I have received information through diplomatic channels that the U.S. and France are currently discussing possible scenarios for a resolution and response. What we saw on Sept. 21st was the public phase. Afterward, the UNSC members hold private meetings. They are currently holding talks with various UN observers and fact-finding missions about sending a mission to Nagorno-Karabakh.

There seems to be a consensus that Germany gave the strongest speech. But Germany was invited as a guest. We should focus on the states whose signature will play a decisive role. Today France and the U.S. are working together. Germany's stance will be a positive influence.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wOdpowD44w?t=724)

a group of U.S. Senators visited Armenia on Saturday

The EU border observers accompanied them to the AM-AZ border. They said efforts are underway to send a group of international observers to Nagorno-Karabakh to gather facts on the ground.

[source,](https://factor.am/692336.html)

interview with VOMA military camp leader Vova Vartanov: Azerbaijan wanted the disarmament of Nangorno-Karabakh army but at the same time did not allow the removal of tanks from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, fearing it would strengthen Armenia

REPORTER: Nagorno-Karabakh has agreed to lay down the arms. What will be the consequences?

VOVA: Having your own defense army is a lot better than relying on peacekeepers from any country because they have always proven themselves to be biased.

Azeri army regularly fires at our [Republic of Armenia] soldiers who attempt to conduct engineering work on the AM-AZ border. But engineering work doesn't have to be done only at the frontline. We need a second line of defense 1-2 kilometers deep. This wasn't done in Nagorno-Karabakh so Azeris were able to break through the line on the first day.

There are some idiot politicians in Armenia who are against building this second line of defense. Two weeks ago, one politician referred to VOMA's efforts to build reinforced structures as "treason" because he thought we intended to surrender the territories between the 1st and 2nd lines.

The lines need some depth. This was missing in the Martuni-Askeran-Stepanakert juncture in Nagorno-Karabakh. That's where Azerbaijan's first strike was. They wanted to split the Nagorno-Karabakh army into three. Some Nagorno-Karabakh soldiers went to the mountains afterward. I won't rule out there are still resistance fights.

REPORTER: Did Nagorno-Karabakh have enough power to resist?

VOVA: They could have resisted for a long time had they not been split into pieces and if they had better logistics. It would be possible to put up a strong resistance in the forests and mountains as well. But for that, they needed education and reinforced defense lines.

REPORTER: Did Nagorno-Karabakh have enough weapons to resist?

VOVA: Approximately half of Armenia's weapons were left in Nagorno-Karabakh. Per capita, there were more weapons and ammunition to defend 120,000 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh than 3 million residents of Armenia. They had up to 150 tanks in Nagorno-Karabakh. Our "friend" Russia will soon take them away.

REPORTER: What will be the fate of those tanks?

VOVA: According to the media, Russia is supposed to collect them.

REPORTER: Could Russia use them against Ukraine?

VOVA: Who cares? The Ukrainian government has been anti-Armenia. They aren't pro-Azerbaijan either, they just "like" Azerbaijani-related online posts.

REPORTER: What other weapons did Nagorno-Karabakh have?

VOVA: Many other types. Our so-called "friends" will soon collect them and announce the numbers.

REPORTER: Did Armenia have an army in Nagorno-Karabakh?

VOVA: No. [Way before this attack] Armenia had reached an agreement to accept 56 tanks that were to be removed by Russia from Nagorno-Karabakh.

I won't rule out that the Lachin blockade began due to disagreements around the Nagorno-Karabakh armament. At the time, there was an agreement to move 50+ tanks to Armenia. This would have made Armenia stronger. Azerbaijan probably didn't like it and maintained a blockade. There was already an agreement to transfer the weapons.

REPORTER: Does that mean Armenia was the one disarming Nagorno-Karabakh?

VOVA: It's not that simple. Nagorno-Karabakh had an excessive number of tanks. Too many isn't always better. Their transfer would have significantly helped one of the Army Corpses in Armenia. I suspect this was the primary reason why the blockade began.

REPORTER: Did Russian peacekeepers do anything when the attack began?

VOVA: They aren't allowed to shoot unless there is a direct threat to them. About 5 peacekeepers stood by 15 Nagorno-Karabakh defense soldiers and helped them defend one of the assaulted positions for an entire day.

REPORTER: Several peacekeepers were ambushed and killed by an accident.

VOVA: It can't be an accident. The vehicle was clearly marked as non-Armenian. You don't "accidentally" shoot everyone inside. They were just trying to send a message. My issue isn't with Russian peacekeepers on the ground, my issue is with the Kremlin.

The 102nd Russian military base in Armenia should have immediately been dispatched to assist Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh. They should have defended their own citizens [peacekeepers] in Nagorno-Karabakh. De jure this would have been a neutral act, separate from AM-RU or NK-RU relations. But Russia didn't even do that, proving that they are an ally on paper only. They sometimes even refuse to counter anti-Armenian decisions made by Azerbaijan or Turkey.

Russian propagandists and the peddlers of this propaganda, such as Dmitri Medvedev, are lying when they claim this is all the fault of one person *[Nikol]*. If this was about one person, Russia could find a way to replace him. Putin could defend Armenia, raise his own reputation in Armenia, and then urge Armenians to appoint a pro-Russian candidate of his choice. Grateful Armenian public would rush to support Putin's chosen candidate.

In reality, Russia has different interests. They need Turkey. That's why they've reached an agreement with Erdogan. They are building a gas hub to bypass the Western embargo. Russia needs BABLO more than it needs Armenia. Russia loves gaslighting while Medvedev loves going KRUTIT.

REPORTER: Is this it? Is this the end of the road for Artsakh?

VOVA: Learn from Azeris. They were asking the same question in 1994. Now it's our turn to exercise and repeat "Artsakh bizimdir".

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWJbh1BXipA)

тот, кто больше врет, получит половину Кремля

Pashinyan's chief of staff has accused Russian state propagandists of intentionally promoting fake news to destabilize the situation in Armenia.

He brought the example of a report claiming that several protesters were able to break into the Government building where they supposedly discovered a group of U.S. special forces preparing to defend Nikol.

He singled out the propagandists who are ethnic Armenian: Margo Simonyan, Tigran Keosayan, Aram Gabrielyanov, Semyon Baghdasarov, Roman Babayan, Sergey Kurghinyan, and Andranik Mihranyan.

[source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/269868)

several trucks brought humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh

Hundreds of tons of food and other items entered Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia with the support of peacekeepers and Red Cross organizations.

Azerbaijan said it will send 2 trucks with fuel via the Agdam route. Azerbaijan has intentionally cut off the supply of gas and electricity to Nagorno-Karabakh for 10 months in an attempt to make it impossible for ethnic Armenians to live in their homes.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omNH6TXBkms?t=8) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/269852) [source,](https://a1plus.am/hy/article/462063)

electoral commission has finalized the Yerevan municipal election results

Almost all parties ended up receiving tens of additional votes. The Commission rejected a tiny opposition party's petition to invalidate the entire elections citing technicalities. No party disputed the final results. The final number of Council seats will be published on Sunday.

[source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/269853)

Fraser ranked countries by Economic Freedom

(1) Singapore

(25) Georgia

(33) Armenia

(101) Turkey

(104) Russia

(114) Haiti

(115) Burkina Faso

(118) Papua New Guinea

(122) Azerbaijan

(165) Venezuela

[source,](https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/economic-freedom-of-the-world-2023.pdf) [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenia_surpassesl_cis_countries_turkey_and_iran_on_index_of_economic_freedom/)

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/16qktef/nagornokarabakh_turns_into_ghetto_deprived_of/