2023 September 24

Daily news wrap-up

Azerbaijani army killed, wounded, and kidnapped 32% of civilians in a Nagorno-Karabakh village // Exodus of ethnic Armenians begins // Russia's open warning: Armenia could cease to exist // Pashinyan's speech: defend sovereignty // Details from NK-AM closed-door discussions before events
by ar_david_hh

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Azerbaijani army has killed, wounded, or captured a third of the civilian population of village Sarnaghbyur in Nagorno-Karabakh

Human Rights Ombudsman: The village Sarnaghbyur of Askeran district had a population of 76 before the attack. Azerbaijan has killed 5, wounded 15, and taken captive 4 residents of the village.

3 of the killed were children: [Nver Ghazaryan](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/269910), Mikayel Ghazarian, David Alexanyan.

• [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/five_people_including_3_children_killed_by_azerbaijani_soldiers_in_nagorno_karabakh_village/)
• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/269910)

exodus begins

Russian peacekeepers escorted over 1,500 Armenians out of Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday. Another 10,000 have become homeless and could soon join them. The rest of the population will be allowed to move as well, said the government of Nagorno-Karabakh.

DAVID BABAYAN, adviser to NK president: The fate of our poor people will go down in history as a disgrace and a shame for the civilized world. Those responsible for our fate will one day have to answer before God for their sins.

REFUGEE FROM STEPANAKERT: I can't describe how terrible the situation was. Stores have been empty. We've been hungry for a year. Long lines. The last few days have been horrible. So many deaths and bombings. I don't want to see Azeri faces ever again. I had to leave my sons behind. One of them [possibly a soldier] went to the forests. He came down yesterday but had to stay behind to bury his friend. My younger son is still in Stepanakert with his children. I don't have any relatives in Armenia, no place to stay, but I've heard the government plans to distribute housing and aid.

• [video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JffL0pSNKeI?t=24)
• [video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceEy-i2Caow?t=95)

[photos,](https://factor.am/692498.html)

• [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/families_in_karabakh_left_homeless_and_willing_to_leave_will_be_transported_to_armenia_karabakh_auth/)
• [source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/751873/արցախցիների-առաջին-խումբը-հասավ-կոռնիձոր/)
• [source,](https://factor.am/692615.html)
• [source,](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/ethnic-armenians-will-leave-nagorno-karabakh-adviser-their-leader-2023-09-24/)
• [source,](https://factor.am/692665.html)

Azerbaijan disconnects Stepanakert's electric grid from Armenia

The electricity was cut off a while ago. It was connected to the Azerbaijani grid on Sunday. The residents of some districts reported receiving electricity. The Azerbaijani regime disconnected the supply of vital energy sources 10 months ago in an attempt to subjugate the local population. The gas flow is still blocked. No electricity in the vast majority of the republic.

• [source,](https://factor.am/692601.html)

clothing shop owner in Stepanakert donates the entire inventory to refugees: video

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWvvQmVw7vY)

long lines in Stepanakert to purchase vehicle fuel

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tQ9GCxK5IE)

Pashinyan's Sunday speech: Azerbaijan AND Russia will be responsible for ethnic cleansings if no conditions are created for Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to continue to live in their homes

PASHINYAN: The attacks by Azerbaijan against Armenia over the past few years have made it *obvious* that [our defense partnership with Russia] is ineffective. This was visible in 2020, May and November of 2021, September 2022, and the list goes on.

The December 2020 invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh villages Khtsaberd and Hin Tagher and the capturing of over 60 Armenian soldiers, the Parukh incidents, the numerous examples of terror against Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, Azerbaijan's September 19 attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, are all raising serious questions about the purpose and motives of deploying Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Despite the Nov. 9 tripartite statement, Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are still facing ethnic cleansings. The entry of a small amount of humanitarian aid in recent days does not change the situation. If no real conditions are created for Armenians to continue to live in their homes, they will have no option but to leave their homeland. The full responsibility will be on Azerbaijan and the Russian peacekeepers.

Armenia is working with international partners to form an international mechanism for the protection of the rights and security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians. But if this effort fails, Armenia is ready to host the refugees.

Armenia has always followed its allied responsibilities and has never betrayed [Russia]. But the analysis of events shows that [Russia is trying to prove that Armenia cannot be an independent state]. And this has absolutely nothing to do with the 2018 revolution in Armenia and its outcome. We have seen * [steps by Russia to prove Armenia cannot be independent] over the past few decades. The 2016 war and several other events took place in this context.

We have never agreed with the formulations questioning the independence of Armenia. But it's concerning that instead of accepting our will to be free and democratic, [Russia] has instead chosen to make Armenia more vulnerable, and now also by endangering our internal security. They have violated diplomatic and interstate ethics in addition to ignoring contractual obligations.

In response to these actions, we urge [Russia] to respect Armenia's statehood and sovereignty, and we express our resolute will to strengthen our sovereignty, democracy, and internal and external security.

We urge the international community to support Armenia's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democracy. We will take any step to defend our independence. For this, it is necessary to change, supplement, and enrich Armenia's internal and external security mechanisms, by cooperating with all partners who wish to support us.

We made the decision to ratify the Rome Statue in December 2022 after it became clear to everyone that the CSTO and our defense agreement with Russia are insufficient for defending Armenia. The ratification of the Rome Statute should not be viewed as a step against Russia. It is necessary for strengthening our defense. It is our sovereign right.

Armenia must be a peaceful, developed, happy, and democratic state. To get there, we must first reaffirm our will to have an independent and sovereign state, and that is the path we have chosen while respecting [Russia] and while expecting [Russia] to respect our choice as well.

Will Armenia will be a free and democratic state, or will it become a [remote region of Russia]? Every Armenian citizen must decide now. This is what's at stake [on the streets of Yerevan] today.

As the prime minister of Armenia, I lead the movement for independence. If I weren't the prime minister, I would have done so as a regular citizen. Armenia's future depends on you and me. //

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdbcYCdb0Oo?t=625)
• [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/pashinyan_external_security_systems_in_which_armenia_is_involved_are_not_effective_/)

8 arrested under the suspicion of organizing an assassination attempt against PM Pashinyan and usurpation of power

One of them is Albert Bazeyan who served as the mayor of Yerevan in 1999-2001 and Parliament VP in 1996-1999.

NSS says the group called "Military-Patriotic Crusaders" had obtained equipment and weapons to carry out killings and forcefully hijack power.

• [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ptrKoXNpGM)
• [source,](https://factor.am/692482.html)
• [source,](https://a1plus.am/hy/article/462081)
• [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenia_s_national_security_service_thwarts_usurpation_of_power_attempt_video/)

U.S. will continue its unwavering support for Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity: Anthony Blinken

Blinken and Pashinyan spoke over the phone. They discussed the rights and security of the Nagorno-Karabakh population and the internal situation in Armenia.

• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/269877)

interview with Armenia's Parliament President Alen Simonyan || The ceasefire document || Threats from Russia

REPORTER: Are you in touch with the Nagorno-Karabakh government?

ALEN: Frequently. Although they have long been independent of us.

REPORTER: Your colleague from Nagorno-Karabakh says Pashinyan was informed beforehand about the * [september 9] presidential election in Nagorno-Karabakh.

ALEN: Obviously information was transferred but Stepanakert didn't even ask for advice. It was for informational purposes only. We all understood that the process organized in Stepanakert would be viewed as a provocation by Baku, but the former regime decided to proceed anyway.

REPORTER: The Nagorno-Karabakh government also claims Pashinyan was informed about the NK-AZ ceasefire agreement in advance.

ALEN: They showed us the document but we didn't have any input. Over the phone, Pashinyan had expressed his concern and called it unacceptable that a paragraph was included about the supposed presence of soldiers from Armenia. The Nagorno-Karabakh government responded by saying that they don't plan on signing it - it will be a statement only.

REPORTER: Did Pashinyan warn Stepanakert not to change the president because that would destabilize the situation?

ALEN: We did not make any demands that could be perceived as a forceful intervention. Nagorno-Karabakh was already aware of the situation very well. It was actually them who informed us about Azerbaijani threats. Nagorno-Karabakh had a more frequent and direct contact with Azerbaijan with the help of peacekeepers.

REPORTER: People who organized the resignation of the Nagorno-Karabakh president are currently protesting on the streets of Yerevan, calling for Pashinyan's resignation.

ALEN: The organizers of these protests are foreign forces. But our compatriots have already rejected them. That's why the protests attract only 5,000 participants. I respect the participants but I'd like to urge them not to become a tool in the hands of a 3rd country [Russia] who doesn't have Armenia's interests in mind. Russia needs Turkey and its economic routes.

REPORTER: What happened near Nagorno-Karabakh's Khtsaberd village shortly after the 2020 ceasefire?

ALEN: In line with the Nov. 9 statement, Armenian forces remained in their positions in a strip near Khtsaberd. A few days later, Russian peacekeepers approached and told them to leave the area. These are our soldiers who later became captives. We called the peacekeepers to understand what was happening. They made some confusing statements and claimed the order to leave was given by Armenians. We requested the names. They didn't provide any. Many of these soldiers are still held captive in Azerbaijan.

That was just one incident in which Russia didn't help Armenia despite there not being any Prague or Brussels meetings yet. It's just an excuse not to help. The Russian media is peddling a misleading narrative to blame Armenia for everything.

It is our government's fault for putting up with their repeated excuses for 3 years, begging them for 3 years, and losing lands and soldiers for 3 years while attempting to sort things out with them. You can't blame us now for taking alternative measures to defend our country.

Russia is attempting to legitimize Azerbaijan's aggression against Armenia proper. When Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19th, Russia released a statement calling for Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise restraint. Do you understand what they are trying to do? They are attempting to frame Armenia as a party in that war so they can legitimize Azerbaijan's future attack on Armenia. What SIDES are they talking about? Your peacekeepers are stationed there, witnessing how people are being murdered in 15 directions. Azerbaijan launched the aggression with artillery strikes in 15 directions.

REPORTER: What is the current situation on the AM-AZ border? There were reports of large Azerbaijani accumulations earlier this month.

ALEN: Part of their soldiers have been pulling back. The situation is de-escalating.

REPORTER: [about EU border observers]

ALEN: We invited EU observers on the AM-AZ border after Azerbaijan's aggression [and Russia's refusal to help]. The observers helped to sharply de-escalate the situation. I'd like to thank the countries that sent the observers.

My Russian colleague, the Speaker of the Russian Duma, later met the Azeri counterpart and openly announced that countries that invite European observers cease to exist. It was an open threat by a ranking Russian official against Armenia. //

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH_nsLaV9Ow)

France's Macron: Russia was supporting Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. France will support the Armenian people.

Macron also said France is watching very carefully so that Armenia preserves its territorial integrity

• [source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/160484)
• [source,](https://factor.am/692638.html)

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/16rc5op/azerbaijani_army_killed_wounded_and_kidnapped_32/