Ruben Vardanyan: I am shocked by the depth of hatred of the current Armenian leadership towards the people of Artsakh

ArmInfo. The former State  Minister of Artsakh, in a message from Baku prison,  stated that he  is shocked by the depth of hatred  the current leadership of Armenia  has towards the people of Artsakh and calls moral cripples all those  who claim that the people of Artsakh did not fight, but left. Here is  part of the text of Vardanyan's message, as published by his family:

 " I want to remind you again of the Russian fairy tale about the  choice between the loss of the horse - the Homeland, losing honor -  the sword, and losing life, which stands at a crossroads. The hero is  obliged to make a choice, because if he stays where he is, it will be  certain death. And this choice is very difficult, but nevertheless it  must be made by everyone, including those who once lived in Artsakh,  when all that happened now, and before that, over the last thirty  years, and before that, for millennia, happened.

Today's court session is a vivid example of what would have happened  if the people of Artsakh had stayed home, and what price you would  have had to pay for it. Yesterday, during the trial, two Armenians  from Artsakh, living in Stepanakert, testified against me, claiming  various very incorrect things. And yet, they had never seen me in  their lives, and they were in a very terrible state themselves, but  nevertheless they appeared in court, and I felt very sorry for them.   Man pays for everything, and the example of the Armenian who was  previously arrested in a Red Cross vehicle and sentenced to fifteen  years, and the example of these two people, is an important visual  warning to all of you that you would not have been allowed to live  peacefully in your homes as it was. And anyone at any moment could  have been in the place of yesterday's two witnesses or accused of all  the terrible crimes, and it would have had nothing to do with whether  you were guilty or not, whether you committed these crimes or not.

I would like to say separately that I find it important that today,  the former president is testifying here, while the legitimate  president of Artsakh is in Armenia, and this, believe me, greatly  changes the situation and the weight of the words being spoken here  by the former president.  I am shocked by the depth of hatred that  the current leadership of Armenia has for the Artsakh people, and I  am glad that I prevented them from implementing their plan, which  they pushed in every possible way and helped some Artsakh leaders,  both current and former, to implement the scenario written by the  other side, and wanted it to be realized so that they could have the  right to say: "You see, your sons died because of them. And you  accuse us of something else, but they sold out and will easily live a  happy life now, while you will spend your life here bearing the grief  of losing your loved ones".

I want to address all the moral cripples who wanted this and took  corresponding steps both in Armenia and in Artsakh, and those who now  speak out about why they didn't fight to the end but left, so that:  they lost.  And you failed to destroy the dignity and honor of  ordinary Armenians. And not only Artsakh Armenians, but all  Armenians.  For your information: during the period when the last  military operation took place, the officially recognized number of  casualties on the other side was four times higher than their losses  during the same period in the 44-Day War. Eternal memory to all those  who died for their Homeland.  I decided on the twenty-third day to  suspend my hunger strike for many reasons, and I ask all those who  have joined me to do so as well.

I believe that the last court session helped to show you all very  vividly and clearly what would have happened to you if you had stayed  here, and what price you would have had to pay to live in your home,  on your land. The second thing is to show that it is not a trial, but  a farce, and another refusal of my legal rights to consider my  petitions and my demands shows that there will be no trial here, that  this show continues regardless of what is legal and illegal.  The  statement made by the official representative of the authorities a  few days ago showed everyone the obvious goal that it is not fifteen  people plus one who are on trial, but the trial of the leadership of  Armenia and Armenia as a whole as a state, of any Armenian - no  matter where he is from, even if he is not from Armenia.

One last important thing. Whoever scares you with another military  war is misleading you again. There are many other ways to lose the  right to own your state in today's world. It is not necessary to  conquer it militarily again. The war is ongoing, but now it is  possible to conquer without a single shot, using technology,  finances, economic dependence, infrastructure, information control,  and political warfare. If you continue to live in illusions: If you  continue to live in illusions that everything will eventually end and  you will be able to earn a living in peace and be happy: Hear me:  this is self-deception.

After losing Artsakh, we will also lose Armenia in the coming years,  if we do not radically change our attitude towards the concepts of  elite, power, state, and who should lead us. Hear me and think about  it before it is too late! And remember: always, as in the Armenian  fairy tale, Kach Nazars (Nazar the Brave and those alike) were chosen  as kings by the people, and it is our decision, not his. I am  convinced that there are healthy forces in our nation and that we  will overcome this difficult crisis, as we have done many times in  our very long history, and we will not just live, but live with  dignity in our Motherland. Remember that only the living can swim  against the current.  I embrace all of you! Together with all of you,  your one of your ordinary Armenians."