ArmInfo. Political "de-Karabakhization" is in progress in Armenia now, Russian expert Sergey Markedonov believes.
The expert noted that at the end of the past year, the Nagorno-Karabakh topic again appeared on the media field. In particular, Samvel Shahramanyan, the last of the leaders of the unrecognized NKR, during a meeting with the "leaders" of republican structures holding their positions "on a voluntary basis," said that no document on the self-liquidation of Artsakh exists. The political scientist added that this thesis was also voiced by Vladimir Grigoryan, Shakhramanyan's adviser, in his interview with Azatutyun radio. "The Republic of Artsakh, the government and all other bodies of the republic will continue their activities after 2024," he concluded.
"So what are we seeing? The birth of a new geopolitical sensation or an attempt by the leadership of the abolished unrecognized republic to capitalize the Karabakh problem inside Armenia? Let's start with the fact that the question of the continued existence of the NKR after the "day and a half war" of the special operation was raised earlier, but was almost on the information radars, that is not visible.
In October 2023, during a protest at the Yerevan permanent mission of Nagorno-Karabakh, Shahramanyan said: "The republic created by the people cannot be dissolved by any document." According to him, the paper on the self-dissolution of the NKR, signed by himself, was adopted only for the sake of stopping hostilities and preserving the lives of military and civilians," Markedonov noted.
In this vein, the expert asked whether this means that we are on the verge of a new military conflict? "After all, if there was no self-dissolution of the NKR, then there remain (at least purely theoretically) the problems of clarifying its status. Let us note that the military method has been the fastest and most effective means of achieving goals for years. Let's not rush to conclusions. In Shahramanyan's plan, of course , are not interested in Baku. But official Yerevan is not happy with it either. Now the Armenian leadership is increasingly talking about promoting the "Crossroads of the World" project, which is not possible if Armenia and Azerbaijan are sliding into a new war. Under the conditions of the new status quo, there are no obvious interested in the "neo-Karabakh project" and among external players," the political scientist added.
Markedonov believes that the de-Armenization of Nagorno-Karabakh and its return to Azerbaijani control is a strong national trauma. Not only for the Karabakh Armenians, but also for the Yerevan residents, the Armenians of the Diaspora.
"In this context, the formation of any "cabinet in exile" is perceived as carrying out "political therapy". It will not be in Yerevan, it will appear in San Francisco or Glendale. In different years there were governments of exiles of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, Tibet or Tamil Ilam. With approximately the same chances of ultimate success as Shahramanyan and Co. have today. However, you can't forbid anyone from recalling the famous prayer "Next year - in restored Jerusalem!" on occasion," he noted.
However, he continued, in addition to psychology, there are also understandable political considerations. "Times change. And as Carl Clausewitz taught us, "even the final, decisive act of the entire war as a whole cannot be looked at as something absolute, for the defeated country often sees in it only a passing evil that can be corrected in the future by subsequent political relations." ". Today in Armenia there is a political "de-Karabakhization". But not everyone agrees with this trend, as in Serbia - with "decosovization". Even if the current situation is clear to a first-grader. And therefore, attempts to capitalize on this topic within the Armenian politicum will take place, I like this either causes undisguised irritation to someone. Moreover, Samvel Shahramanyan has a very difficult fate. After all, they will still say about him: "This is the one who signed:."