Termination of Russia’s mediation mandate led to loss of Artsakh – Robert Kocharyan

At a time when Russia was failing in Ukraine, the Armenian authorities thought that it was losing and falling apart, and it was time to use this opportunity, however, this decision nullified Russia’s mediation mandate, Robert Kocharyan, the second president of Armenia, said in a press conference on Monday.

“The surrender of Artsakh was accomplished in two stages. The first one was in 2018-2020, before the war. And the second one was after 2020 and before September 2023. Let me remind you what the prime minister did in 2018. He ignored a very interesting and acceptable offer in 2019 and, in fact, stated that he was starting from scratch.” According to the president, this meant that he ignored the co-chairs, saying that he would negotiate as he wished.

“Basically, the negotiation process has reached an impasse. Then he (Nikol Pashinyan) said that Artsakh is Armenia, period. And if Artsakh is Armenia, then what can we negotiate about? It was, in fact, a call to war. This approach inevitably led to war,” Kocharyan added.

According to the president, there were excellent opportunities to accept the proposal of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and continue talks. “Anyway, there was a great opportunity to avoid war. Let’s try to understand the reason. In my opinion, first of all, it is arrogance, the inability to figure out your steps at least two or three moves ahead, as well as adventurism. There are no other explanations,” Kocharyan said, adding that the second blunder was committed in Prague.

“The second stage of the surrender of Karabakh began in Prague, with Armenia recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. It was a verdict against Karabakh. Let me remind you that this happened at a time when Russia was failing in Ukraine during the war. And the Armenian authorities thought that Russia was losing, falling apart, and it was time to use this opportunity. But their decision nullified Russia’s mediation mandate. Russia was the mediator of the November 9 declaration on the Karabakh issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Once it is stated that Karabakh is a part of Azerbaijan, this mediation is nullified,” the president noted.

According to him, Prime Minister Pashinyan thought he could wash his hands of it, step aside and start playing geopolitical games.

“If anyone thinks that Russia is a country, a state that can be ignored to such an extent, they are deeply mistaken. That cannot be right. Many in our country are offended by why Russia has not fulfilled its obligations. Let’s look at all this from Russia’s point of view. From this angle, it looks completely different: you could have stopped what was happening in Karabakh only with forceful intervention, otherwise it was not possible. Forceful intervention for the sake of whom? For the sake of Armenia, which at a crucial moment, to put it bluntly, abandons you, joins the side of your enemies? Will any of you fight for a friend who betrayed you? I don’t think so,” the president told reporters, adding that it was a fatal mistake that cost everyone losing Artsakh.