Armenian President Declares What His Press Secretary and Foreign Ministry Denied

The President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, visited the Karmir Shuka community in the Martuni region today. During a meeting with local residents, he stated that efforts are underway to develop the community in the territory preserved through heroic struggle.

The President also addressed the negotiations with Azerbaijan regarding Karmir Shuka. He specifically announced that lengthy negotiations have taken place, during which the Azerbaijanis demanded the handover of the Karmir Shuka village. However, the President firmly stated that he refused to concede the village.

It is worth noting that there have been reports circulating online that the Azerbaijanis are demanding a co-use road in the Karmir Shuka area, in exchange for the return of 30 Armenian prisoners of war. If the Azerbaijani demands were satisfied, Martuni would completely fall under enemy control.

It was also reported that both Arayik Harutyunyan and Nikol Pashinyan were in favor of meeting the Azerbaijani demands. In response to an inquiry from ArmDaily.am, the Artsakh Foreign Ministry stated that the information is so absurd that it does not even warrant a response.

In turn, Spokesperson for the President of Artsakh, Lusine Avanesyan, stated in an interview with Artsakhpress that the Azerbaijani side can publish a whole list of desires, proposals, and demands to stir up the Armenian information space. Linking the use of the road through Karmir Shuka to the return of prisoners of war is part of this series.

“The topic is being circulated once again, and I must say again that it is disinformation. Those who spread it know very well that today, even with the escort of Russian peacekeepers, Azerbaijanis are temporarily using that road. However, this cannot mean 'joint use,' as the road fully belongs to the Republic of Artsakh, and the question of changing its status simply cannot be discussed,” Avanesyan declared.

Nevertheless, it was Arayik Harutyunyan himself who announced that negotiations were not about a co-use road, but about the surrender of the village. In that case, what was the point of denying that information?