Preparation Ahead of 2025 is Crucial, Says Nairi Hohikyan

Amid the escalating tensions of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, Turkey and the United Kingdom are seeking to open a second front, with Nagorno-Karabakh seen as the most advantageous area from a Turkish perspective. This has led Azerbaijan to create more problems along the front lines in recent months, provoking confrontations with both the Armed Forces of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as the Russian peacekeepers. Nairi Hohikyan mentioned this on his Facebook page.

“Few are aware of the clashes that have taken place and continue between the Russians and Azerbaijanis. The Russian side is striving to silence this, as it is not in their interest to escalate tensions in Artsakh given the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem and their patron, the United Kingdom. It is no secret that Turkey is among the largest suppliers of weapons to Ukraine, and the Turkish 'Bayraktar' drones cause significant damage to the Russian military. This openly speaks to a Russian-Turkish hybrid war that could also occur in Artsakh and in Armenia’s Syunik region if we do not maintain vigilance.

In this context, there are also people and political forces in Armenia who eagerly consume Turkish and British offerings, believing that insulting the Russians or forcing them out will make us strong and happy. Russia is here for its geopolitical interests and is not spending billions of dollars on weapons and construction simply for the kind eyes of Armenians. The Russians would gladly spend that money in their own country but understand that Armenia (including Artsakh) holds enormous strategic significance for all major players.

I will speak separately about the mineral resources. In this context, we cannot allow any kind of tension to arise in Artsakh right now. Some have been deceived into thinking that by provoking war, we can hit two birds with one stone—liberate Hadrut and Shushi and drive the Russians out. In reality, war at this moment could be catastrophic. We do not have a national authority capable of rallying our forces and correctly utilizing them against the enemy, nor do we have real support from allies, as all potential allies are preoccupied with the Ukrainian conflict. In this case, Turkey and Azerbaijan will engage their entire arsenal.

Of course, I can't disclose what we have against the enemy, which would be very painful for them, but in any case, we cannot provoke tension right now; it absolutely must not happen. Ahead of 2025, we must prepare as well as possible,” Hohikyan wrote.