Russian Peacekeepers Have Failed Their Mission, Says Nikol Pashinyan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in an interview with Politico Europe, responded to the question: “Do you feel betrayed by Russia? Do you believe that Russia has not made sufficient efforts to ensure the agreements of 2020, considering that Russia was supposed to ensure the opening of the Lachin corridor and maintain the existing line of contact? Do you think Russia has failed as a security guarantor?”

“You know, it is evident that since November 9, 2020, we have witnessed very acute security situations in Nagorno-Karabakh—violations of the ceasefire line and incursions into the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. We have had incidents where a farmer was shot by an Azerbaijani sniper in the presence of a Russian peacekeeper. There are obstacles to agricultural work, ultimately leading to the closure of the Lachin corridor and the emergence of a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. All these issues fall under the responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping forces as stipulated in the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020. In this regard, to the extent that these problems have arisen, yes, Russian peacekeepers have failed their mission. However, on the other hand, I cannot say that if there were no Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, the situation would be better under these circumstances. I mean to emphasize that we need to understand this nuance correctly, and I believe both statements are accurate,” said Pashinyan.

When asked why the Russian peacekeeping mission has failed, whether it is due to ineffectiveness, being overly occupied with the war in Ukraine, or a deliberate decision to avoid angering Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Prime Minister responded: “I think both factors play a certain role because Russia's capabilities have changed due to the events in Ukraine, but on the other hand, I also believe there is a second factor that you mentioned. In my assessment, both the first and second factors are present.”