In My Opinion, There Are Several Things That Need to Be Done: Ruben Vardanyan

Public and political figure, coordinator of the "Artsakh Security and Development Front" public movement, Ruben Vardanyan, has given an interview to the "Дождь" television channel, highlighting the severe situation in Artsakh caused by the Azerbaijani blockade and reflecting on the discussions held yesterday at the UN Security Council.

The interview has been translated and summarized by Vardanyan's office:

"Дождь" - Firstly, could you provide details about the case of the man who died of starvation? What is known about this?

Ruben Vardanyan - Prior to this case of starvation, there were other incidents as well. Two children died because their mother went out looking for food and was delayed. It is known that in the film 'The Same Münchhausen', the heroine said, 'Must a person be killed to understand that he is alive?' Should people die for the world to realize that there is a terrible disaster in Artsakh? Should there be mass deaths for the world to finally respond to the blockade that has been ongoing for 8-9 months?

Yes, this death is a horrific tragedy, it is one of many examples of what is happening here daily. Azerbaijan claims, 'We are ready to supply goods.' What kind of products should Azerbaijan provide for people to be assured that they are not poisoned and will not lead to some diseases or other health consequences in the current environment of distrust? When a sick person leaving by a Red Cross vehicle can be abducted and blamed, we can all be blamed in the same way. This is a tragedy, and the world does not fully realize the heavy situation; around 30,000 children cannot go to school because there is no food, no hygiene supplies, no transportation. This is a tragedy in all directions that the international community is ignoring."

"Дождь" - Our viewers are asking, and I join this question: What kind of resolution do you see for the current situation? Moreover, there has been a meeting of the UN Security Council, but we see that in recent months and years the Council has failed to act as a mediator in complex conflict situations. We see that nearly three years after the war, Russian peacekeepers are on the ground, yet they do not impact the situation or the blockade. You say the world is not paying attention, but we can see that the world is fully engaged in the horrific war in Ukraine and consciously or unconsciously lacks the strength, attention, and time. What kind of resolution can there be now?

Ruben Vardanyan - In my opinion, several things need to be done. First, there should be a firm demand from the international community directed toward Azerbaijan, and not just from international organizations. I am astonished at how employees of international companies operating in Azerbaijan accept everything that is happening in Artsakh and continue to work calmly, paying taxes and providing additional income for Azerbaijan to further pressurize us. There must be pressure on the states so that they, in turn, impose sanctions on the Azerbaijani authorities.

It is essential to open an aerial corridor, and through various means – whether balloons, drones, medicine, or food – to deliver supplies here. There should be mass protests by humanitarian organizations concerned about humanitarian incidents occurring in various parts of the world. This is such a case; 120,000 people live here, and every single human life, every child's life is invaluable. I simply wish to appeal to the mothers who are watching this broadcast right now. They will understand that this concerns the children who are being deprived of the opportunity for a future.

For this reason, pressure must be exerted by humanitarian organizations and various international bodies that have the capacity to say that this is not a natural disaster – an earthquake or road collapse; this situation was created because they want to resolve their political issues by creating unbearable living conditions for people. Pressure can be expressed very simply: by not shaking hands with the criminal. In my opinion, this is the most important pressure on a person, realizing that what he has done will not be accepted by decent people, being rejected, pressured by all those well-known people who must say that these children, who simply want to live, learn, and follow their laws and traditions, cannot be destroyed because the political regime believes it has the right to do so."

"Дождь" - The day before yesterday, a meeting of the UN Security Council was held, where the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and the situation created there were discussed. Is there any result or international response from this discussion?

Ruben Vardanyan - Firstly, the very fact that the issue is being discussed at the level of the UN Security Council indicates that it is not closed, despite Azerbaijan wanting to present it as a domestic matter. No, this is not your internal problem, but the issue of the international community. Secondly, Azerbaijan's obligations must be fulfilled, and I am pleased that many countries voiced the necessity of ensuring unhindered traffic through the Lachin corridor, which is documented and signed by Azerbaijan, which is now talking about a peace treaty.

The question arises: if you do not intend to fulfill the requirements of that trilateral declaration, what kind of trust can we discuss in conditions where there have been so many casualties over the past 35 years? Here, people live in fear, understanding that the leadership of Azerbaijan is leaving those living in Artsakh with two options: ethnic cleansing or genocide. Therefore, it is significant that the international community discusses the issue. I hope the resolutions and decisions that will be adopted following these discussions will be more decisive, firm, and specific. In any case, it should be clearly understood that this is not merely a humanitarian disaster; a humanitarian disaster is created to exert political pressure on the fate of those people who said 35 years ago that they wanted to live independently – outside of the Azerbaijan SSR. For this reason, this issue is not closed and will not close against all Azerbaijan's efforts."