According to Daniel Ioannisyan, the recipient of Pashinyan's words was not so much Aliyev as Putin

“During the debate, I believe the recipient of Pashinyan's words was not so much Aliyev as it was Putin.” This statement was made by Daniel Ioannisyan, coordinator of the ‘Informed Citizens’ NGO, on his Facebook page, addressing the conversation between Nikol Pashinyan, Vladimir Putin, and Ilham Aliyev during the session of the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council in Moscow yesterday.

“Pashinyan continuously referred to and highlighted how what Aliyev said contradicted the trilateral statement of November 9. In doing so, he emphasized each time that the document signed under Putin's mediation is not functioning and that Putin has not said a word about it. It seems he wanted to say, ‘Vladimir Vladimirovich, everyone sees that you are not backing your own signature… Show the contrary or don’t be offended that we are heading to Brussels and Washington,’” he added.

The Armenian Prime Minister needed to clearly justify why negotiating or signing anything in Moscow is pointless, and he managed to do this publicly. Against this backdrop, it is not surprising that the trilateral negotiations lasted only 20 minutes. They probably came together; perhaps Pashinyan diplomatically said, ‘Are you both opening Lachin, which you signed? If not, then what’s the point of discussing anything new, Vladimir Vladimirovich?’