Who Remains in Artsakh: ‘Hraparak’

With the arrest of businessman Ruben Vardanyan, the Russian-Azerbaijani tandem is attempting to solve an important issue: to hold at least a few hundred to a thousand Artsakh residents, especially from the military-political elite, hostage so that people will no longer dare to think about leaving Artsakh, understanding that they might meet the same fate as Ruben Vardanyan at the checkpoint.

This is reported by the newspaper 'Hraparak,' which adds that it is beneficial for both sides that at least 25,000 to 30,000 Armenians remain in Artsakh, ensuring the presence of Russians and providing Azerbaijan with the maneuverability to present itself to the international community as not executing ethnic cleansing, while Armenians continue to live there.

Over 50,000 Artsakh residents have been forcibly displaced to Armenia, yet thousands continue to stay, including government officials and military figures. The three former presidents—Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasian, and Arayik Harutyunyan—are in Artsakh, alongside former commanders of the Defense Army and generals, as well as all members of the three opposition factions in Parliament.

In Armenia is Samvel Babayan with his party colleagues, except for Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Gagik Baghunts and female MP Gohar Sargsyan. There are also emigrants from the 'Free Fatherland'-Armenian Revolutionary Federation alliance, whose names the website could not verify.

In Artsakh, the most tragic figure in the Artsakh government elite is current President Samvel Shahramanyan and almost all members of his government.