"I learned from the press Russia was going to make such a statement" - Nikol Pashinyan

ArmInfo. In November and  December 2020, the President of the Russian Federation announced that  Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan. I learned from the press  about those announcements that Russia is going to make such an  announcement, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in an  interview with the Public TV of Armenia, and referring to Russian  President Vladimir Putin's statement that it was Armenia that  renounced Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that Karabakh is part of  Azerbaijan.

"And that statement, in my understanding, contradicted the tripartite  statement of November 9, 2020. Next, in 2021, the events of  Sotk-Khoznavar took place, Azerbaijan invaded the territory of the  Republic of Armenia, we naturally appealed to the Collective Security  Treaty Organization and the Russian Federation on this issue;  moreover, separately with the CSTO, we have another legal treaty base  with Russia. Zero response occurred.

"Moreover, I want to draw your attention again to the events of  Sotk-Khoznavar. I resigned at that time, the National Assembly was  dissolved, and elections were scheduled for June 20. After that, or  during those days, the Russian Foreign Minister visited Armenia, left  Yerevan for Baku, and left Baku for Moscow. And Sotk-Khoznavar took  place. There was a great probability that the Armenian government  would react differently, as a result of which elections would not  take place in Armenia, which would actually mean the dissolution of  the Republic of Armenia.

"We understand its political consequences, don't we? At that time, we  were accused a lot that we are not doing it. We are not doing it, but  we understood that the problem of dissolution of the Republic of  Armenia was set. Zero reaction from CSTO and zero reaction from  Russia. Moreover, even then our opposition said that 'you did not  petition well. Instead of this article, they petitioned with another  article, that's why there was no reaction.'

"And there is another accusation that the Armenian army did not  fight, why should the CSTO fight? After that, the events of November  2021 took place. At that time, the Armenian army fought. Again zero  response from CSTO and Russia, after which a declaration was signed  between Russia and Azerbaijan in February 2022, which said the  following: Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are raised to a  strategic level on the basis of recognizing each other's territorial  integrity, inviolability of borders.

"Moreover, the parties undertake not to perform such actions which,  according to the interpretation of the other party, contradict their  national interests. After that, the Parukh events took place in  Nagorno- Karabakh. Zero response from Russian peacekeepers. After  which, in 2022, by the way, the following happens: the Russian  foreign minister's special representative, Khovaev, comes to the  region with proposals. And among those proposals is the following:  'let's postpone the issue of the status of Nagorno- Karabakh.' We say  we agree. Khovaev hands that document to us in August and goes to  Baku to hand that document.

"The next time Khovaev comes to the region on September 11 or 12,  2022. He goes to Baku first.  Notwithstanding these precedents, if  such a proposal is brought, we agree with this proposal. Azerbaijan  rejects that proposal. This is unofficial. And to get an official  answer, Khovaev comes to the region on September 11 or 12, 2022.  First he goes to Baku and then he comes to Yerevan. That is, when  Khovaev arrives in the Republic of Armenia, Azerbaijan's attack on  Armenia takes place. Again zero response from Russia, despite our  official requests, and zero response from CSTO.

"And on October 6, 2022, based on the Almaty declaration, we record  our readiness to go to peace with Azerbaijan. And we record that  between Armenia and Azerbaijan, what Russia recorded between itself  and Azerbaijan; that is, the reaffirmation of the provisions of the  Almaty declaration took place. And that was the only way to reaffirm  the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia.

"Was I able to describe the cause and effect relationships? That is,  essentially, what was the problem in connection with the CSTO? They  say: 'Let us come, there be monitors.' We say: 'If monitors come,  what should they do?' There is no answer.

"And secondly, we say specify the zone of responsibility of the CSTO.  The Republic of Armenia is a member of the CSTO, right? The Republic  of Armenia means a zone of responsibility of the CSTO.  Specify which  that zone of responsibility is because we have a situation where that  zone of responsibility has been violated; moreover, we did not  propose this perception. The basis of our agreements was that the  sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia is a red line for the  CSTO and the Russian Federation.

"We say the red line has been violated, they say no, as if the red  line has not been violated. We say: 'Very well, this paper, this pen,  draw the red line you said where it passes from?' Moreover, we say:  'If you don't agree with our interpretation, no problem. You draw  that red line with your hand, let's figure out where that red line  passes from.' They say, 'We can't draw that red line.' It means you  don't have a red line in Armenia. What should you do when you come to  Armenia?," the PM said.