Armenian politicians and a representative of Nagorno-Karabakh’s exiled leadership dismissed Russia’s claim on Thursday that Armenians can safely return to Artsakh, now under Azerbaijan’s control. This came after Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s Wednesday statement that “Baku’s constructive steps” allow for Karabakh Armenians to return following Azerbaijan’s September 2023 offensive.
However, the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Artsakh was the direct result of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s recognition of Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. Critics argue that, without clear security guarantees, any return is impossible. On Thursday, Karabakh parliamentarian Metakse Hakobian stated that no Armenian would return while Azerbaijanis remain in the region, and Armenian opposition MP Tigran Abrahamian warned of potential genocide without security mechanisms.
Pro-government figures like Lilit Minasian, from Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party, expressed similar concerns on Thursday, emphasizing security risks and criticizing Russian peacekeepers for failing to prevent the Azerbaijani offensive. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, rejected this criticism, attributing Azerbaijan’s full control to Pashinyan’s policy shift. Armenian opposition leaders continue to fault Yerevan for not pushing for the safe return of Karabakh Armenians in ongoing peace talks.
