The Republic of Artsakh’s (Nagorno-Karabakh’s) leading political factions on Wednesday denounced Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s latest comments on the conflict with Azerbaijan, saying that they are “consistent with the position of official Baku.”
Speaking in the Armenian parliament on Tuesday, Pashinyan made clear that his administration unequivocally recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. He also said he is ready to sign an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal that would commit the two South Caucasus states to recognizing each other’s Soviet-era borders.
Armenian opposition leaders portrayed this as further proof of their claims that Pashinyan is helping Baku regain full control over Karabakh.
In a joint statement, the five political groups represented in the Karabakh parliament described Pashinyan’s remarks as “unacceptable” and again accused him of undermining Artsakh’s right to self-determination which was for decades supported by international mediators.
“Thus, Armenia’s ruling circles separate the issue of the Artsakh people’s security from their right to self-determination, ignoring the decisive nature of the latter, something which is consistent with the position of official Baku,” they said.
They again urged Pashinyan to comply with a 1992 parliamentary act that banned Armenia’s governments from signing any document that would recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh. Azerbaijani rule in Karabakh would have “devastating” consequences for Armenia as well, added their statement.
Karabakh leaders have repeatedly criticized Pashinyan ever since he signaled in April 2022 his readiness to “lower the bar” on Karabakh’s status acceptable to Armenia. Pashinyan and his entourage also stopped making references to Karabakh’s self-determination in their public statements.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev demanded on Tuesday that Yerevan go farther and officially declare that “Karabakh is Azerbaijan.” He also said that the Karabakh Armenians must accept Azerbaijani rule or leave their region.
The Karabakh factions said Aliyev’s threats show that Baku is carrying on with its “genocidal actions” against Karabakh. They called on the international community to take “concrete measures” to end the four-month Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin corridor.
