‘No, I do not have access to President Putin.’ Ruben Vardanyan speaks to France TV

The Minister of State of the Republic of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan, gave an interview to the French news channel France TV within the framework of the ‘Le monde de Loison’ program, presenting the events surrounding Artsakh. Below is the translated interview.

France TV: Mr. Vardanyan, can you describe what the situation is like?

Ruben Vardanyan: We are in conditions of humanitarian crisis. The blockade has already been ongoing for 47 days. We have no way of leaving Artsakh. Children cannot go to school because there is no gas, and electricity is limited to only a few hours per day. We have some food supplies that we distribute with vouchers, but it is cold, it is winter, and the situation is really dangerous for the 120,000 people who have been blockaded for 47 days.

France TV: Do you agree to call this ethnic cleansing?

Ruben Vardanyan: This is clearly a policy of ethnic cleansing and forced displacement. The issue is that they want to deprive us of our right to live in our country. But Artsakh is our historical heritage. We have the right to live where Armenians have lived for generations for thousands of years. And President Aliyev has stated clearly that he envisions Artsakh without Armenians: those who want to leave should leave. This is unacceptable, as this is not only ethnic cleansing but also a warning that we will not allow Armenians to remain in Artsakh with their own culture and traditions; they do not want to acknowledge that Armenians are different, that we have our own values and laws. This is also a violation of fundamental human rights and a blatant violation of our right to self-determination, under the threat of ethnic cleansing. Azerbaijan is a country where the rights of its own people are being violated, a country where one family has controlled the government for 45 years, a country where people are poor and only a small group of rich people controls the entire revenue from oil and gas, dictating how we should live under their control. This is unacceptable.

France TV: Mr. Vardanyan, Europe has sent a monitoring mission. Is this something you expected from the international community?

Ruben Vardanyan: They sent the mission to the borders of Armenia, not to Artsakh. I see the mission from Europeans, Russia, and other countries as opening an air corridor for us. The most important mission and step to help us would be to establish an air route that will allow humanitarian cargo to be delivered to Stepanakert. Otherwise, we will always have problems receiving food and other necessities through the land route controlled by Azerbaijan.

France TV: Mr. Vardanyan, some of the journalists gathered here met with French President Macron today. You are speaking through a French news channel, what would you like to say to Emmanuel Macron this evening? What would you like to ask him?

Ruben Vardanyan: First of all, I want to thank President Macron for truly standing by the Armenian people and the people of Artsakh. Secondly, I want to say that it is the responsibility of the president of one of the most civilized countries in the world to consistently exert pressure on a country that does not recognize human rights and humanitarian values. Despite all the difficulties, it is necessary for President Macron to continue to apply pressure and engage the whole French public to show Europe that we cannot be indifferent and that we must pressure a state that lacks law and democracy. It is necessary to unblock the road, provide an air corridor for humanitarian transport, and ultimately recognize the independence of Artsakh. This has been the focus of our struggle for the past 35 years, which is a guarantee for ensuring long-term peace in the region.

France TV: If I am not mistaken, you are originally from Russia. They say you have connections with Vladimir Putin. Where is Russia? Russia was supposed to be the peacekeeper. According to the agreement from 2020, Russia should have ensured peace. Is Mr. Putin too busy with Ukraine to defend you, and do you regret anything?

Ruben Vardanyan: I was born in Armenia, and my mother's side is from Artsakh. For 20 years, I have carried out many projects in Artsakh. My son has served in the army, my daughter has lived here. I am proud to be an Armenian who has succeeded in Russia. Russia is conducting a peacekeeping mission. We all know that the peacekeepers are not numerous—2,000 people—and have a limited mandate to stop civil activists who call themselves ‘eco-activists.’ Russia played a crucial role in the peace of Artsakh in November 2020, when the document was signed. I understand that the situation is very complex and that many parties have different interests. However, I believe that Russia, France, and the United States, which are members of the OSCE Minsk Group, can unite around this conflict and truly exert significant pressure on Azerbaijan—not separately, but together. Because I believe this is the issue where the interests of great countries like the US, France, and Russia coincide: to save democracy, to save a small nation that has lived on its land for millennia. Therefore, I see no contradiction between Russia, France, and the US in exerting collective, substantial pressure on Aliyev and his regime.

France TV: Do you talk to Vladimir Putin? Do you have access to the President of Russia? What does he say about this situation?

Ruben Vardanyan: No, I do not have access to President Putin. I am in a blockade where people are facing shortages of food and electricity. I am with my people, who for 35 years have been truly fighting for independence. And I do not have any access to anyone, as I am in Stepanakert, in a blockade. This situation has already placed much responsibility on me to be with my people as a minister of state.