Are There People Among Artsakh Residents Considering Leaving Artsakh? Vardanyan Responds

Ruben Vardanyan, a public and political figure and former Minister of State of the Republic of Artsakh, who is currently in Stepanakert, gave an interview to RTVI's "Новые итоги" program, discussing the situation surrounding Artsakh. Below is the translated interview:

- Mr. Vardanyan, can you confirm the opening of the Lachin corridor? If so, what does this change for Stepanakert, considering the Azerbaijani checkpoint installed there?

- I cannot confirm it. Furthermore, new information has emerged that instead of "eco-activists," police checkpoints and representatives of other law enforcement agencies will be opened there. Therefore, no. The information about the opening of the Lachin corridor is not confirmed, it is not true.

- So, the blockade has not been lifted and continues?

- The blockade continues in various forms, and different types of restrictions are continuously being imposed to prevent the free movement of people from Artsakh to Armenia and vice versa. Yes, unfortunately, all this is still ongoing.

- It is being declared in Armenia that Azerbaijan is trying to carry out ethnic cleansing against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh through its actions, forcing people to leave their homeland and native places. Are there people among the residents of Artsakh who are considering leaving Artsakh or have already left? And if so, how can this be done?

- Under the conditions of the blockade, it is impossible. Therefore, people are, of course, very concerned about their future, as the President of Azerbaijan made a harsh statement: either you comply with our laws, or you leave your homeland, where you have lived for thousands of years; this land is ours. Such aggressive rhetoric creates anxiety among people, but at the same time, many react in the opposite way. They declare that despite the threats, they will not leave their land under any circumstances.

- You wrote on your Telegram channel that you have had several meetings (including with residents of Artsakh), during which you formulated specific steps and demands for the leadership of Artsakh and Armenia, as well as the Russian peacekeeping forces and the international community, to emerge from this crisis. What is your plan?

- You know, there are many problems both inside Artsakh and outside. The important thing is that we all agree and consider any restrictions on the movement of Artsakh Armenians to Armenia and vice versa unacceptable. Today, people in Artsakh are discussing various actions to be taken, ranging from peaceful protests, like Mahatma Gandhi did in India, to blocking roads and non-usage. The main message to the international community and Russian peacekeepers is that the people living in their own country should not be subjected to the rules imposed by a neighboring country. This must be understood and acknowledged. People are ready to go to great lengths because they understand that this is, in fact, the red line that must be preserved to stop the Azerbaijani occupation of Artsakh.

- Now there is discussion regarding recent statements by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about the possibility of recognizing Azerbaijan's territorial integrity with the borders of 1991, meaning including Nagorno-Karabakh. What is your attitude towards such developments?

- In 1991, Nagorno-Karabakh was not part of Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast had already held a referendum and had exited from the Azerbaijan SSR. Therefore, we can endlessly debate various legal formulations, but the main issue is that the people who initiated the movement to join Armenia and to leave the Azerbaijan SSR in 1988 continue their struggle to this day and believe that nothing has changed. And despite the various obstacles encountered over these years, the people have the right to self-determination and the right to decide their own future. In this sense, all the actions taken—referendums, decisions by the highest councils—are legally justified, giving us the absolute legitimate right to determine our own future.