Former Spokesperson of Artsakh Defense Army Responds to Nikol Pashinyan's Recent Statements

“The idea is constantly circulating that with a flexible policy we could have avoided the war,” writes Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his Facebook page. “Those promoting this thesis should at least answer one question: why was it impossible to avoid the war of 2016, which was preceded by unprecedented escalations in 2015 and 2014, as a result of their ‘flexible’ policy?”

As a proponent of this thesis, I respond: it was precisely due to the ‘flexible’ policy of the ‘former ones’ that it was possible to cease hostilities at the request of the same Azerbaijani side on the fourth day of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan in April 2016, avoiding not only significant human and territorial losses, as occurred in the September war, but also gaining a more advantageous position at the negotiating table.

Remember the content of the agreements reached in Vienna, Geneva, and St. Petersburg, and you will be convinced. Moreover, I would say that by unleashing the April four-day war, Baku had the same objectives and sequence of operations as it did during the 44-day war. However, in contrast to the September developments, in April, the Armenian side was able to skillfully and harmoniously organize its military and diplomatic capabilities and exit the war in a position of strength.” This was written on his Facebook page by the former spokesperson of the Artsakh Defense Army, Senor Hasratyan.