2023 September 26

Daily news wrap-up

Samvel Babayan: Azerbaijan had agreed to autonomy & national guard for Nagorno-Karabakh; destruction of arms; Russian FSB's coup; Ruben Vardanyan, and more // Exodus: 1 in 4 Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh // Humanitarian response to fuel blast // Geopolitics
by ar_david_hh

---

U.S. supports sending an international mission to ensure the security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians; Russia responds

The U.S. and Armenia want to send an international mission to Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia isn't so sure.

U.S. STATE DEPT: Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh should be able to remain and live in their homes in peace and dignity. They should be allowed to safely return to their homes and their passage should be overseen by a neutral 3rd party. Azerbaijan has a responsibility to protect civilians and ensure the humane treatment of all, including those it suspects of being combatants.

We believe there should be an international mission to provide transparency, reassurance, and confidence to the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and the international community, that their rights and security will be protected. //

KREMLIN: Any mission to Karabakh is possible only with the permission of the government of Azerbaijan. We have not yet seen any concrete suggestions by the U.S. to send an observation mission. Russia is already on the ground. //

• [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/u_s_supports_the_idea_of_creating_an_international_mission_to_ensure_the_security_of_karabakh_armeni/)
• [source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/752287/ղարաբաղում-ցանկացած-առաքելություն-հնարավոր-է-միայն-ադրբեջանի-համաձայնությամբ-պեսկովը՝-փաուերին/)

Russia to Armenia: don't forget that we sell you gas for a discount price

PUTIN'S OFFICE: The economic cooperation between Russia and Armenia plays a key role in Armenia's development. It's far greater than the AM-US cooperation. Also don't forget the cheap gas we sell to Armenia.

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h2huH62990?t=268)

Why is it difficult for Armenia to leave CSTO? Ranking member of the ruling party explains

REPORTER: Pashinyan says Armenia's defense partnership is insufficient yet Armenia is still a member of CSTO. Are you discussing the topic of exiting CSTO?

ARMEN KHACHATRYAN: Of course there are extensive discussions but leaving CSTO is not a simple task. Armenia has since signed numerous agreements with CSTO and interstate agreements. Everything needs to be addressed separately. Currently, we do not see any benefit in a quick exit from CSTO. We have to weigh the benefits and risks. There is currently no legal process to launch the exit.

REPORTER: According to USAID's Samantha Power, Pashinyan has made concrete proposals for AM-US cooperation. What can you tell us about Pashinyan's letter to the White House?

KHACHATRYAN: I haven't read the content but Armenia wants to strengthen its security. The U.S. could help. The 13 September 2022 attack on Armenia was stopped with the help of a phone call from the U.S. Currently, the only state that's capable of countering Turkey and Azerbaijan to maintain peace in our region is the U.S.

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YGasCOaWxc?t=4)

Armenian parliament will discuss the ratification of the Rome Statute in a first hearing next week

The 4-day session begins on October 3. Prior to this, a parliamentary commission will have to first approve the draft bill on September 28.

Armenia says it's a step to hold Azerbaijani war criminals accountable that could also serve as a restraining force. Russia says it's a step against Russia.

RULING PARTY MP: We are going to ratify it. The team agrees. The International Criminal Court was formed primarily to respond to acts of genocide and crimes against humanity. We see a textbook example of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh today. We must ratify the Statute now so we can bring the perpetrators to justice. Sooner or later Ilham Aliyev is going to face justice.

REPORTER: How will Russia respond to the ratification of the Rome Statute?

RULING PARTY MP: The Russian military is highly dissatisfied by the political decisions made by the Kremlin when it comes to the inaction towards Azerbaijani aggression. There is a political decision not to assist Armenia.

Sure, there would be more heated diplomatic exchanges after the ratification, but it's already brazen as it is. Some Russian officials and media figures have made impudent statements. I advise my Russian colleagues to restrain and shut the mouths of Margarita Simonyan and the likes of her. Even those Armenians who have long viewed Russia as an ally are making a 180-degree turn after statements made by the likes of Margarita Simonyan. Shut their mouths.

Even after 2018, Armenia took steps to strengthen AM-RU relations. This is why people with a friendly attitude to Russia were appointed as defense officials in Armenia. Some of them were USSR-era officials and figures.

REPORTER: But Pashinyan appointed Armen Grigoryan * [strongly pro-West] as the head of the National Security Council, against Russia's will.

RULING PARTY MP: Hello? Is every appointee supposed to be Russia's pick? Ա՜յ քեզ բան․ Why should Russia itself pick and choose whom we appoint? We have taken reasonable steps to maintain good AM-RU relations but today we see that Russia is not a guarantor of Armenia's security. We saw the outcome of the Turkish-Russian-Azeri agreement in Nagorno-Karabakh. This is the turning point. What should we thank Russia for?

REPORTER: What about the situation around Syunik and Azerbaijan's "corridor" demands?

RULING PARTY MP: Russia is not helping us to protect Syunik. Quite the contrary. I won't open the parenthesis. We must very quickly invite the international community to act as a restraining force.

• [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenian_parliament_commission_to_discuss_ratification_of_rome_statute_on_september_28/)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxe4_au7aSU?t=24)

Washington Post: Ethnic Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh as Russia fails to uphold peace deal

• [source,](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/25/nagorno-karabakh-armenia-azerbaijan-russia/)

exodus: 1 in 4 people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been forced to migrate to Armenia so far

28,120 people have moved to Armenia as of Tuesday. A third of them are children. They will stay in a temporary humanitarian camp in southern Armenia before receiving housing in various settlements across the country.

Sweden has donated $1.3M for food, transportation, and cash donations to refugees. EU will provide $5M. France will provide $7M.

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjBQf3keP6A)
• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270048
• [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/eu_increases_support_for_nagorno_karabakh_population_to_5_million_euros/)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1NNhR4m5Bo)
• [source,](https://factor.am/693831.html)
• [source,](https://factor.am/693869.html)

videos showing the long lines formed by ethnic Armenians forced to leave Nagorno-Karabakh

And the camps where they are staying temporarily before receiving housing.

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWj9L4NF0TY)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSOrIGoYqlg)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2FHrmzkeOo)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni4ARXg8ydM)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ZLlFRYgUw)

a dude from Stepanakert rode his bike to the Armenia border for 5 hours

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtHyc3suH58?t=4)

USAID chief about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh:

SAMANTHA POWER: During the 9 months that the government of Azerbaijan blocked this corridor, it created excruciating humanitarian conditions for the people. The government of Azerbaijan shut out access to humanitarian organizations and independent eyes.

The military attacks of last week have made a dire situation even worse. It is absolutely critical that humanitarian orgs are granted full and unimpeded access through the Lachin corridor into the villages and towns of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The U.S. will provide $11.5M in humanitarian assistance to provide everything from food to psycho-social support, and to help reunite many unaccompanied children with their families.

REPORTER: Will the U.S. impose sanctions on Azerbaijan or Aliyev for the ethnic cleansing?

SAMANTHA POWER: I'm here to gather the facts and testimonies and pass the info to the White House after which a decision will be made on how to respond. There are a range of options under active consideration. I look forward to bringing back the experience and testimonies and being able to describe to my colleagues in government just how grave the circumstances have been for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlWwtldKRkI?t=42)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MEE0z_r-VQ)

independent analysts from Azerbaijan have so far identified 200 Azeri soldiers killed during their aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh

The list of full names was published by Meydan TV.

• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270055)

290 wounded, 125 dead, dozens still missing after yesterday's fuel storage explosion near Nagorno-Karabakh capital Stepanakert

Context in [Monday report](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/16s89r7/exodus_of_armenians_out_of_nagornokarabakh/). Several patients died in a hospital in Stepanakert due to insufficient medical intervention as a result of Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The following day helicopters and ambulances were allowed to enter from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh with the help of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers to evacuate the patients. Azerbaijan sent a van with medicine.

Armenian TV personality [Mane Grigoryan's](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270092) brother is missing after the explosion. He was waiting in line to get fuel.

A team led by the British medical doctor Steven Jeffrey from the Royal Army Medical Corps will visit Armenia to treat the patients evacuated out of Nagorno-Karabakh.

France will send medical equipment to Armenia in the coming hours.

... what caused the explosion?

The area where the drivers formed a queue for fuel is the size of a soccer pitch. People would approach with their buckets to receive fuel. Since the area was very smelly, some residents preferred to stay away and have the buckets transferred to them.

The smokers were being told to stay behind barbwires. Eyewitnesses report seeing 3 smokers, but they were standing far away.

Two employees worked on the reservoir. One of them took care of air ventilation, while the other was presumably helping to fill the buckets.

A witness reports that the air ventilation hole began sucking air inwards. He realized an explosion was about to happen. The blast threw people in different directions.

There were multiple explosions. Some people had an opportunity to escape from subsequent explosions. They witnessed flames coming out of wells. At some point, the explosions stopped and only fires were left.

Possible causes:

(1) Eyewitnesses report seeing lightning strikes that reached near the ground that day, but this fuel storage comes equipped with special devices that protect against lightning.

(2) Smokers were observed but the distance was quite far.

(3) Someone did something inside the reservoir.

(4) ...

• [source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/160550)
• [source,](https://factor.am/693378.html)
• [source,](https://factor.am/693387.html)
• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270016)
• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270017)
• [source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/752112/արցախում-պայթյունի-ականատեսը-դեպքի-երկու-պատճառ-է-առանձնացնում/)
• [source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/160562)
• [source,](https://factor.am/693581.html)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQzlLdWgm5U)
• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270092)
• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270090)
• [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270107)
• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBw3p0kJcms)

Turkey and Azerbaijan will build a Kars-Nakhijevan railway, will use Iran as a corridor "if Armenia doesn't want to be part of the Middle Corridor": agreement signed

The leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan met in Nakhijevan on Tuesday to sign three agreements. Two were about jointly building housing in a Turkish region affected by earthquake, and an energy cooperation.

ERDOGAN: The signing of the protocol of intent to build the Kars-Nakhijevan railway is also a historical event. I'm confident this railway will become a branch in the part of the Middle Corridor [China-Europe].

If Yerevan doesn't agree for the railway to pass through Armenia, it will travel through Iran instead. Iran is open to the idea. We could create a road to Azerbaijan through Iran.

Having road and railway connections between Nakhijevan and the rest of Azerbaijan is a priority for both Turkey and Azerbaijan. It will strengthen our relations. We will do everything possible to open this corridor as soon as possible. A car or a train departing from Baku could go straight to Kars. It is nice to see positive signals from Iran in this matter. //

• [source,](https://factor.am/693459.html)
• [source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/160573)
• [source,](https://factor.am/693588.html)

representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijani met in Europe ahead of October 5 Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting || EU wants Azerbaijan to explain "integration"

EU's statement (tldr): The EU, France, and Germany hosted the representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan. They discussed various efforts to address the urgent needs of the Karabakh population. The EU reiterated its criticism of Azerbaijan's military operation.

Azerbaijan said it would provide humanitarian aid to the Karabakh population. The EU wants this process to be transparent and monitored by international actors.

EU also wants Azerbaijan to clarify its vision for Karabakh Armenians' future as part of Azerbaijan. //

• [source,](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/09/26/statement-by-spokesperson-for-president-of-the-european-council-charles-michel-on-armenia-azerbaijan-normalisation-26-september-2023/)

interview with Armenian parliament's Defense Committee chief Andranik Kocharyan (ruling party)

REPORTER: What happened in Stepanakert?

ANDRANIK: Murky and childish processes that began with the landing of Ruben Vardanyan. Then we see mysterious gatherings and dinners. Then the resignations of parliament president and president Arayik, and the transfer of power to ARF. The opposition forces in Armenia clapped and cheered: *"Arayik is gone. We can finally defend Karabakh."* Then we got the war.

The only party that didn't take part in the coup was Samvel Babayan. He had earlier presented a plan to find common ground with Azerbaijan. It could have allowed the preservation of many institutions in Nagorno-Karabakh. A mutual understanding was reached with Azerbaijan around 13 of the 15 points of the document. The other 2, pertaining to the fate of the Defense Army, were yet to be negotiated and finalized.

However, the Clan rejected Babayan's negotiation efforts and the Western platform. Nothing was good enough for them. They ran to capitulate in Yevlakh immediately after the attack.

Now we see how all the weapons accumulated by the Defense Army with great effort for many years are being surrendered today. Moreover, the Clan backstabbed Armenia by agreeing to the language of the documents stating that Armenia had soldiers inside Nagorno-Karabakh.

Samvel Babayan was able to successfully move from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia yesterday. This is very encouraging, the only legitimate leader of Nagorno-Karabakh is now located in Armenia. The Clan in Stepanakert must be held accountable for the anti-Armenian agreement.

They must also explain to the War Commission why they gave away all the weapons instead of destroying them, or better yet, why they were unable to utilize the broad range of armament at their disposal. Here are some possible options: (1) Someone forced them not to destroy the weapons. (2) Certain individuals personally benefitted from the surrender of weapons. They must testify to the War Commission.

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1PHJuRDGuE?t=20)

interview with Samvel Babayan, the Nagorno-Karabakh opposition leader

REPORTER: You arrived yesterday. How was the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh?

BABAYAN: The residents of the Martakert region went to Stepanakert, then Yerevan. I was in one of the cars in the column. Heavy traffic.

REPORTER: Everyone wants to know how you were able to cross the checkpoint without being arrested by Azeri agents. After all, you were an active member of the 1st Karabakh War.

BABAYAN: When I entered Nagorno-Karabakh 7 months ago, Lachin was already blocked at the time. Everyone also wondered how I was able to get in. At the time I said that I could enter or leave Nagorno-Karabakh whenever I wanted.

Nothing extraordinary happened. I got out of the car like everyone else, greeted the Azeri checkpoint agent, walked 15 meters, greeted another cop, got in the car and proceeded to Armenia.

It doesn't matter why I was confident I wouldn't get arrested. There are self-proclaimed heroes now in Nagorno-Karabakh hiding under their beds. Why?

REPORTER: You have caused far more damage to Azerbaijan during the 1st war than many others who are on the wanted list. Why did they greet you and let you proceed?

BABAYAN: First of all, the agents are 30-year-old kids who could not have recognized me. Nobody checks passports. They check the vehicle trunk while you walk 15 meters before getting back into your car.

Now everyone wonders why I'm not the last person leaving Nagorno-Karabakh. I said I would be the last person if they placed me in charge. They didn't. But when they behave like cattle and surrender the country...

REPORTER: Please no insults.

BABAYAN: That's nothing. That's not enough for them. These people must answer for their actions.

REPORTER: There was no agreement with Azerbaijan to let you through?

BABAYAN: No.

REPORTER: Other Nagorno-Karabakh officials complain about the inability to leave. They say even Russian peacekeepers can't help them.

BABAYAN: There are other methods for leaving. I can give them a hint.

REPORTER: You weren't concerned that the Azeri agent would identify and arrest you?

BABAYAN: No. I've already served in Azerbaijani prison. I can do it 5 more times as long as I know I pursue the right cause.

REPORTER: What happened in Nagorno-Karabakh? Let's start with the resignation of President Arayik Harutyunyan.

BABAYAN: The 5th Department of Russian special services FSB had made a phone call to Arayik. This FSB department is tasked with overseeing the political affairs in the CIS. If you remember, shortly after the Ukraine war one of this department's ranking officials was placed under house arrest for failures. As a result of this department's incompetency, all 12 countries have downgraded or broken their relations with Russia over the past 20 years.

The FSB called Arayik and told him that the FSB's other assets in Nagorno-Karabakh had reported that Arayik was cooperating with others [Arayik was reportedly personally open to the Western platform].

REPORTER: Who are the FSB's assets who reported Arayik to FSB?

BABAYAN: The former presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh. They told FSB they would be more loyal to them, so FSB organized the replacement of Arayik.

REPORTER: So Russia organized this operation.

BABAYAN: Yes. They also dispatched Ruben Vardanyan to Nagorno-Karabakh last year. Russia has just requested Vardanyan to be allowed to leave Nagorno-Karabakh. How come Russia is doing this? Didn't Vardanyan claim he wasn't a Russian agent when he first arrived?

REPORTER: Tell us more about how they decided to remove Arayik.

BABAYAN: Arayik was one of them. They are the same team. He joined 3 former leaders and decided that it was best to appoint someone else. They invited me to Parliament at night to inform me that Azerbaijan had warned that they would attack had Stepanakert proceeded with the appointment of a new president.

REPORTER: So Azerbaijan gave a direct warning?

BABAYAN: Yes. But they said they planned on proceeding with the change anyway, and that they would carry the responsibility. So I asked them why they invited me at all if every political party except for ours had already decided the change would take place. They said they wanted me to promise there wouldn't be mass protests on the streets.

Now our people are refugees. It's over. Is this team going to answer for their actions or not? Bako Sahakyan, Arkadiy Ghukasyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, Samvel Shahramanyan, and their MPs who voted in favor of the process must answer in the court.

Second. After one day of fighting, they released a statement urging Armenia to remove its army from Nagorno-Karabakh. But Armenia has no army there. What army is Armenia supposed to withdraw?

REPORTER: Who wrote that text implicating Armenia?

BABAYAN: Russia. These idiots decided to cooperate. They also surrendered 100 tanks, 170 howitzers, multiple GRADs, TORs, and enough armament for an army. They gave it all to Azerbaijan without any damage. How is this not a crime?

Now they criticize me for leaving Nagorno-Karabakh, for not standing next to them to carry responsibility for their criminal decisions. These criminals must be charged with crimes as soon as they step foot into Armenia.

We [Babayan's team] agreed with Azerbaijan that Nagorno-Karabakh would receive the status of an autonomous republic. There are 23 paragraphs written point-by-point. Azerbaijan agreed to that. People who passed this document back and forth through the NK-AZ border should come and testify about our negotiations with Azerbaijan.

REPORTER: So there was an alternative? We could have avoided this war?

BABAYAN: Absolutely. We were given an opportunity to form an autonomous republic on the 4,400 km^2 areas of former NKAO. We could have our own national guard.

REPORTER: Azerbaijan gave its approval?

BABAYAN: Yes.

REPORTER: Were you the negotiator?

BABAYAN: Through someone else. I sent my responses in written form. They agreed.

REPORTER: Azerbaijan agreed for Nagorno-Karabakh to have autonomy, local governing bodies, and a national guard?

BABAYAN: Yes. All of it. The regime committed a crime by rejecting.

REPORTER: Did you inform the regime?

BABAYAN: They didn't even want to listen. They didn't even invite me for any meeting. They never invited me to any defense meetings during the last 15 days. They didn't like me because I was against changing the government. Good job! Now you are criminals who stole Nagorno-Karabakh's independence by scratching the election results. Today you are evacuating the population.

Armenia was spending $500M/year to help the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh live and prosper. Armenia gave everything. The regime in the end called Armenia a criminal with an army located inside Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover, most of the heavy equipment they surrendered to Azerbaijan wasn't donated by Armenia. It's the weapons we captured from Azerbaijan during the 1st war.

REPORTER: Under *your* agreement with Azerbaijan, what would be the fate of this equipment?

BABAYAN: To move them to Armenia but this was a paragraph that Azerbaijan disagreed with. They wanted us to destroy the equipment in place instead of sending it to Armenia. Out of 23 paragraphs, there were disagreements around only 3. This was one of them.

REPORTER: Why wasn't the regime open to your negotiation efforts?

BABAYAN: They adopted a maximalist stance. They wanted nothing less than full independence. They wanted to be treated as an "equal party". They ignored my calls to hold direct negotiations with Azerbaijan, while the opposition parties in Armenia called me a "traitor".

The parties run by Kocharyan and Serj, and the regime in Nagorno-Karabakh were against doing trade with Azerbaijan through the Agdam route. Did the road open in the end or not? Did they surrender the country in the end or not?

Before they replaced Arayik, during a parliamentary session I informed them that my team was negotiating with Azerbaijan. Two days later these monkeys launched a defamation campaign saying *"None of it is realistic, Babayan is a liar"*. These are Russian spies and desantniks [Ruben Vardanyan].

They knew about the ongoing efforts but they were agents serving another state. You call them a [Russian] agent and they don't even deny being one.

For 20 years they used the people to enrich themselves. Today the government of Armenia has an obligation to confiscate every property owned by them and distribute them to the refugees. Confiscate absolutely everything and resettle the refugees into their properties.

REPORTER: If the Russian FSB installed the new regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, why did they allow Azerbaijan to attack Nagorno-Karabakh?

BABAYAN: What makes you believe Russia was capable of stopping the attack? Everything Azerbaijan has done against us in Nagorno-Karabakh was aimed at pushing Russia out of Nagorno-Karabakh. Everything was done to discredit Russia and to show that Russia was powerless. This is why I was insisting on DIRECT negotiations with Azerbaijan, without Russian mediation.

It was a massive mistake not to accept the status of an autonomous republic. This would have been an opportunity for AM-AZ normalization and trade resumption. But these ջահելs wanted to *"fight until the end"*.

REPORTER: What was Ruben Vardanyan's role?

BABAYAN: The blockade of Lachin began after the landing of Ruben Vardanyan in Nagorno-Karabakh. This answers your question on why Russia couldn't prevent the September 19 attack. Azerbaijan interpreted Vardanyan's landing as an attempt by Russia to freeze the conflict, which Azerbaijan would never agree to under any conditions. They also viewed the coup as an attempt by Russia to freeze the conflict.

REPORTER: Why did Russia want to freeze the conflict?

BABAYAN: To maintain influence in the region, over Armenia and Azerbaijan. The new regime didn't believe Azerbaijan would launch a massive attack. Many in Armenia also didn't. They all believed the Russian peacekeepers wouldn't allow that. They ignored my pleas and warnings that Azerbaijan was preparing to attack. They bribed and brainwashed the population with the help of their owners in Yerevan. Serj Sargsyan was the first person to publicly congratulate the new president of Nagorno-Karabakh. Will Serj agree to share the responsibility for this surrender? These people are Russian spies working for FSB's 5th department. They have different interests.

REPORTER: What does the opposition want in Armenia?

BABAYAN: They will try to use the refugees to remove Pashinyan. I'd like to ask refugees not to serve any political force. We must focus on finding housing and jobs for them.

REPORTER: Is Russia actively helping the opposition to remove Pashinyan?

BABAYAN: I don't know, ask them. Many of them don't even realize they are being used by FSB. They are asked to do certain things by agents who report to FSB. We must provide assistance to refugees so they will feel secure and less likely to become a political tool in the hands of the opposition or the government.

REPORTER: If Azerbaijan wants to discredit Russia by attacking Armenians to show Russia is useless, how come Russia isn't taking any action against Azerbaijan?

BABAYAN: Russia has always tried to avoid a confrontation with Azerbaijan, from day one. Azerbaijan is backed by Turkey.

REPORTER: Why did this all happen?

BABAYAN: Greed. It's all over. The government is burning all the documents in Stepanakert. It's very convenient. They don't have to explain how they spent $1B in Himnadram donations. No one can audit anymore.

REPORTER: There are no archives?

BABAYAN: They are burning everything. Everyone in Stepanakert already knows that the fire won't stop for 5 days. They've been burning documents since last week.

REPORTER: They are burning it so Azerbaijan won't take possession of them.

BABAYAN: That's a good excuse. They are getting rid of records of financial loans taken from the Himnadram fund. It's understandable they'd want to purge military or other sensitive records but what does Himnadram have to do with it? Anyways. There must be an investigation launched by Armenian authorities. //

• [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf2r6gW7i7g)

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/16t0inm/samvel_babayan_azerbaijan_had_agreed_to_autonomy/