The text marked the end of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic in Armenia after Azerbaijan’s lightning military operation last September: all government institutions of the separatist republic were to be dissolved on January 1. But the former leader of the region finally returned to this announcement.
1 min
For Samvel Shahramanyan, the decree he signed on September 26 is just an empty piece of paper. The president of the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh had nevertheless committed to dissolving his state after Azerbaijan’s military victory, but he had done so under duress, says Hovhannes Gevorgyan, the Armenian representative of Nagorno-Karabakh in France.
“ The first statement which said that the dissolution had been taken, made under duress and with the sole objective of saving the lives of the approximately 105,000 Armenians who still remained in Karabakh in a hostage status. »
Torn, today this decree changes nothing to the situation on the ground, separatist leaders no longer have any control over Nagorno-Karabakh. It is first of all a signal sent to the Armenians, explains Hovhannès Gevorgyan.
“ It is absolutely a way of resisting, of not accepting the result of the use of force. We are not giving up on restoration, or at least this hope of restoring our rights. »
The symbolic decision of the Armenian separatists also aims to make their friendly countries react. Support and an international community which have “turned the page” on Nagorno-Karabakh, regrets Hovhannès Gevorgyan.
Read alsoThe Nagorno-Karabakh crisis in five questions