The Ghost of a Great War Roams in the Region: Ruben Melikyan

Renowned turkologist Ruben Melikyan believes that denying or proving the accusation of being an agent of the National Assembly Speaker is impossible. He stated, “A serious accusation has been made, and before that, serious accusations have been voiced in this country, but none have gained any traction. We can conclude that a style has been adopted to ignore serious accusations.”

Discussing the unblocking situation, Melikyan described it as a positively packaged threat for Armenia. He illustrated the situation as follows: “The birth of a child resulting from rape.” He elaborated, “That means, following the occupation of Artsakh, Turkey is now offering a 'possibility'—another threat of opening borders and unblocking communications. It is a threat because it is not based on our state dignity, and it is not the result of a natural diplomatic process—it is a continuation of a capitulatory regime. Furthermore, it is not an expression of goodwill from Turkey but the same hostile policy presented in a different packaging.”

Melikyan considers the government’s portrayal of all this in a positive light as self-deception. He remarked that the threats from military exercises and preparations for military actions should be perceived as potential threats, referencing the Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercises: “The ghost of a great war roams in this region; when that war will start and which major states will be targeted—whether Iran or Russia—will be shown by events. But in every development, Armenia remains a target, and Armenia is at risk of becoming a stage for war.” He deems it a mistake to ignore all this.

During the genocide of Armenians in Artsakh, just like in other locations, the population of Shushi was also targeted. Melikyan presented historical facts, adding that the people of Shushi were subjected to genocides and forced emigration. “But this does not mean that Shushi has lost its Armenian identity. Similar emigrations and genocides occurred against the Armenian populations of Van, Mush, and other places. But this does not mean that any high-ranking Armenian official ever disputed the Armenian belonging of Van,” Melikyan stated.

According to him, what was sounded in the National Assembly coincides with Azerbaijani positions. He suggests that recent events seem not to be coincidences but rather a well-organized process: “They systematically strike the national and state important institutions.” He criticized the silence of scholars regarding the Prime Minister’s controversial statement on Shushi, emphasizing that blatant ignorance cannot be interpreted. It is worth noting that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated, “Do you want to say that Shushi, which has an Azerbaijani population of 90 percent or more, is Armenian in its status?” Melikyan remarked, “Perhaps they consider it beneath their dignity to comment or debate on ignorance.”

On the other hand, the turkologist highlighted that the statement was made by the country’s leader from the parliamentary podium, pointing out that failing to respond leads to potential misinterpretations. He insisted, “It should be firmly noted that Shushi, as well as all of Artsakh, is genuine Armenian territory. Discussing whether Shushi was populated by Azerbaijanis, meaning it was Azerbaijani, is distant from historical objectivity. Shushi has not only been one of the vital Armenian origins but there are numerous facts showing that it was one of the educational centers in Transcaucasia, with evidence that particular educational principles emerged in Shushi.”