Karabakh right to self-determination has no alternative – Armenia opposition

PanARMENIAN.Net - The opposition Armenia and "I Have Honor" blocs have issued a statement, according to which, the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) to self-determination has no alternative.

The country's opposition maintains that it is necessary to "unite quickly and fight with drastic steps" to avoid losing the homeland for good.

"It is more than clear that it is naive to expect any step in the national and state interests from this government," the statement said, drawing attention to the Azerbaijan's creating of a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, its targeting of civilian infrastructure, and the psychological pressure to drive the Armenians out of their homes.

Beginning from March 8, over 100,000 residents in Karabakh were deprived of gas for over 10 days, and because the pipeline has been damaged in territories currently under Baku's control, the Azerbaijani military would not allow the Armenian side to eliminate the problem. Gas supply resumed on March 19, only to be interrupted again on March 22.

The Azerbaijan armed forces have also been violating the ceasefire and using loudspeakers to spread panic among the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, attempting to force them to leave their homes.

"The parliamentary opposition of the Republic of Armenia supports the Artsakh Republic and the people of Artsakh," the statement said.

"Azerbaijan and Turkey must be held accountable for the use of force, the unleashing of the 44-day war, the aggression, the thousands of victims, the war crimes, the resulting situation, including the ongoing terrorism, the provocation of a humanitarian catastrophe."

The two bloc also called for the resumption of negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, "regardless of Azerbaijan's whims", to address the humanitarian situation in Artsakh, the provision of long-term security guarantees, de-occupation and the final status.

The statement went on to say that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces must withdraw from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.

Azerbaijani forces violated Armenia’s border in several sections in the provinces of Syunik and Gegharkunik on May 12 and 13, 2021 and are still refusing to withdraw their troops from the area.