Artsakh was not a burden for Armenia, it was its protection: Avetik Chalabyan

The war in Artsakh and the events that followed showed that the threats against Armenia have not ended, and that the policy pursued by the current authorities has led the country into a deep dead end. This was stated at the Yerablur military pantheon by Avetik Chalabyan, coordinator of the HayaQve initiative, speaking about the regional security crisis and the causes of the 44-day war.

According to Chalabyan, the 44-day war was the largest, but not the only, stage of a conflict that is still unresolved. It was followed by Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia’s sovereign territory and the hostilities of September 19, 2023, which resulted in ethnic cleansing and the forced deportation of Armenians from the region.

Speaking about the arguments adopted by the authorities, Avetik Chalabyan said:

“Armenia’s military and political leadership, which believed that Artsakh was a burden for the country and that by giving it up Armenia could be rid of it, led our people into a deep dead end and delusion. This was an absolutely anti-historical and unscientific way of thinking. Artsakh was not a burden for Armenia; Artsakh was its protection, in particular a shield for our southern part. By senselessly losing this protection, we made all of Armenia defenseless and vulnerable, which is why pressure on our country is growing today from all sides.”