2023 October 2

Daily news wrap-up

UN enters empty Nagorno-Karabakh /// Diaspora relations /// French weapons and India's role /// Dog chooses Avinyan over ex-regime: "don't want to lose Syunik" ///
by ar_david_hh

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Azerbaijan authorizes the entry of its small UN monitoring group into Nagorno-Karabakh after the successful completion of the depopulation

The UN officials from Azerbaijan reported that the current population of Nagorno-Karabakh is anywhere between 50 and 1,000. They asked a few locals if they had witnessed any crimes against civilians after the establishment of the ceasefire. The interviewees reported they haven't. The identities of the interviewees aren't available.

On Monday [Azerbaijan was reportedly caught](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/16yflra/tigran_grigoryan_on_x_the_man_in_the_video/) using Azeri agents disguised as local Armenians to promote the Azerbaijani narrative.

[video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blWIOkuDBvU) [article,](https://factor.am/695797.html) [article,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270576)

Daily Beast: Survivors Reveal War Crimes as Putin’s Men Stood Aside

[article,](https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-allied-soldiers-accuse-azerbaijan-of-war-crimes-in-nagorno-karabakh)

Azerbaijan begins broadcasting its TV and radio in the territory of occupied Nagorno-Karabakh

The tower in Shushi is broadcasting several Azeri channels in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The programs are in Azeri, Armenian, and Russian languages. The content is made in Azerbaijan.

[article,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270531)

Azerbaijani army targets an army food truck near Armenia border, multiple casualties

Azerbaijani soldiers, who illegally occupied the territories of the Republic of Armenia near the village of Kut, opened fire at a truck delivering food to Armenian soldiers on Monday. One soldier was killed and two were wounded. They also targeted an ambulance vehicle.

[article,](https://factor.am/696268.html)

someone sniped the Russo-Azeri military convoy in Nagorno-Karabakh

Russian and Azeri soldiers were conducting joint patrols on the streets of occupied Stepanakert when an unidentified sniper opened fire at their vehicles, according to Russian defense memestry. No one was sent after the Russian military ship.

[article,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270566)

rumors about the supply of French weapons to Armenia

CHIBUKHCHYAN, analyst: A few days ago rumors began to circulate about the possible delivery of 2-3 types of vehicles from France. This information isn't new. Its original source was Russian "Sputnik Armenia".

They circulated it on June 14 after receiving certain information in May. The rumor was about the delivery of 50 armored vehicles that transport troops. Some of them come with mounted weapons like machine guns. Another type of vehicle was only for transporting troops and wounded personnel.

My own source confirmed this rumor back in June. The armored vehicle is called "VAB MK 3" (50 units).

According to a French official, there are also discussions about the delivery of "Bastion" and "Sherpa" armored vehicles manufactured by Arquus Defense. They come with mounted guns. There was no final agreement around those as of June.

The French officials say the AM-FR military cooperation will activate with the appointment of the French military attaché to Armenia.

Then out of nowhere appears François Hollande, the ex-president of France, and announces that not supporting Armenia will be a massive shame for France and the EU. He wants France to help secure Armenia's borders and treat them like Europe's.

Why did this information from June resurface now, and why did the likelihood of these deliveries increase? Because of all the steps Armenia has taken to effectively "exit" from CSTO. No ambassador to CSTO, no authorization to host activities in Armenia, no visit by the Armenian MOD to the recent meeting held in Russia, open criticism, etc. Still, it is necessary to officially leave CSTO.

TIGRAN YEKAVYAN, Paris-based analyst: The French weapons alone aren't enough. What Armenia really needs is a new security architecture. Armenia should offer something to France, something economic-related. Armenia's biggest potential in this regard is being a bridge between France and India. The latter two have established a strategic cooperation, and France is interested in the Indian market. Armenia and India have similar strategic interests. There is a big potential here. There are currently two states that strongly support Armenia's territorial integrity: Iran and India. Armenia could add France to this list by showing that Armenia can help promote French interests.

... about Nagorno-Karabakh

CHIBUKHCHYAN: Azatutyun outlet is working for Azerbaijan and Russia. Their headline claims only 85% of Nagorno-Karabakh have left the country. It's obvious that the up-to-date population was closer to 100K and not 120K. The other 20K had left in 2021-2022 but the government of Nagorno-Karabakh was claiming they were there, possibly for inflating numbers so Armenia could give them more cash.

So there are no 20K people in Nagorno-Karabakh right now. Any claim to suggest otherwise is a direct support for Russia which wants to maintain the illusion of the effectiveness of its peacekeeping, and a support to Azerbaijan's narrative that many Armenians have chosen to remain and live there because it's "safe".

Starting this week, the only purpose of maintaining Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh is to allow them to record TikTok videos. They recently transferred 15 tons of flour from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh "to feed people". Feed WHO? The only ones left are the state officials with their families. They don't need 15 tons of flour. It's obvious the peacekeepers took the free flour to sell it later. Do not be surprised. Maybe you haven't heard the stories told by Nagorno-Karabakh residents themsleves. According to eyewitnesses, the peacekeepers were engaged in heavy trade with locals during the blockade. They even refused to help tow a local's vehicle for 200 meters; they offered to sell him a car battery for $100 instead. Everything was about trade. They'd buy and import stuff from Azerbaijan to sell it to locals [during the blockade]. People were fed up with it to the point that the site of a Russian flag induces traumatic feelings now. One refugee family from Nagorno-Karabakh refused to settle in a house in Syunik because it had a Russian flag nearby. They interpreted it as a sign that Azerbaijan could easily attack and invade that area at any moment. There are so many video interviews where refugees express disappointment with Russia.

... about Granada

CHIBUKHCHYAN: France's FM will visit Armenia this week. However, the primary topic will be the upcoming Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting in Granada hosted by the West. There is information that Russia has instructed its puppets in Armenia to derail these negotiations at any cost. There were even talks about shutting down the airport to prevent Pashinyan's departure.

Why is Russia attempting to derail Granada ? If Armenia and Azerbaijan sign any document, like a roadmap for peace, or the recognition of territories with specific km^2 numbers, that could be the end of the Russia-brokered Nov. 9 agreement and Armenia's obligations under it. Armenia and Azerbaijan will effectively exit it. It's also possible that in Granada , the two will agree on something around the unblocking of regional communication routes. This would essentially replace the Nov. 9. This could help Armenia demarcate its borders without the involvement of malicious Russia.

Aliyev obviously prefers Russian mediation over the Western, but it can't easily reject Granada especially while there is a risk of being labeled as a perpetrator of an ethnic cleansing if they push the West too much. So Aliyev's best bet now is for the pro-Russian 5th column in Armenia to derail the Granada meeting.

[video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GldzWoofE0E?t=1101) [article,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270519)

Kremlin propagandist is unhappy with the intensity of Kremlin-backed anti-Pashinyan protests, calls for audit of financial resources spent on protests

MARKOV: The protests in Yerevan are too sluggish. I'm under the impression that the organizers care more about showing that something was done with the resources rather than actually removing traitor Pashinyan. They want to show that they tried. An audit is necessary to understand where the resources went. //

[video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqAlI2B-_P8?t=524) [video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBTDayTQebE?t=351)

Pashinyan asks Europe to hurry up with its $2.6 billion investment program

>In July 2021, the European Union approved the financing of five key programs in Armenia in the next 5 years with a total cost of 2.6 billion euro. These funds are to be channeled into infrastructure, digital agenda, climate, transport, democratic reforms projects.

>Part of the funds are earmarked for strengthening sustainability and socio-economic development of Armenia's southern region of Syunik and completion of the construction of the North-South highway

Pashinyan hosted the EU ambassador today to discuss that and other topics.

[article,](https://factor.am/696121.html) [article,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/pashinyan_says_new_impetus_needed_for_projects_under_eu_s_2_6_billion_investment_package_for_armenia/)

would Armenia really arrest Vladimir Putin after the ratification of the Rome Statute? || Constitutional Court judge Vahe Grigoryan explains

JUDGE: The ratification means you are obligated to follow every part of the Statute. At the same time, the Statute contains cracks that allow states to avoid "heavy" decisions. The Armenian government has signaled that it will use one not to arrest Putin.

A good friend of mine Chile Eboe-Osuji, the 4th president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), expressed his opinion during his [recent visit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyzfi60fXzs) to Armenia. I asked him to comment on the situation. He believes the whole rhetoric about arresting Putin was blown out of proportion. He explained that in reality, states can bring facts in front of the court on why it's impossible to carry out certain actions.

REPORTER: But Putin couldn't visit South Africa because of the order for his arrest. Why couldn't South Africa make an exemption?

JUDGE: South Africa and Armenia are different countries with different backgrounds, with different reasons and legal explanations. Each case should be investigated separately.

... why is it important for Armenia to ratify the Rome Statue completely, instead of going with the "lite" version by simply recognizing ICC's authority?

JUDGE: When you don't fully ratify it, you have many obligations but few opportunities. When you ratify it, you gain the full set of opportunities. Why would you turn down many benefits?

[video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYmz2w289qo) [video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft7Cf-1eO8c) [more,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56UNzZgx0yk)

the head of the Diaspora Office about the relations with ARF-run structures abroad and Russia-based Armenian unions

REPORTER: Was Himnadram audited?

ZAREH SINANYAN: Yes. The audit results were published.

REPORTER: Your task is to help rally diasporan resources to help Armenia. What has been done lately?

SINANYAN: We've been in touch with various donors, volunteers, and doctors to help the burn victims, and to deliver support on the ground. Not everyone is willing to support, however.

REPORTER: You seem disappointed in the diaspora.

SINANYAN: Over the past 1.5 months, we've made great efforts to rally our lobbying potential, etc. The results have been disappointing, to put it mildly.

REPORTER: Why?

SINANYAN: There is an organization that has always viewed itself as the #1 lobby group [ARF's branches]. They have completely ignored our calls. I'll give you a recent example. A rally was held in Belgium yesterday. We begged them to hold it 1.5 months ago. *"It will be too late if you organize it later,"* we said. In mid-August we asked them to organize it in late August or early September. They turned down our plea. It's ineffective now.

Or the case in Los Angeles. Many Armenians took to the streets and shut them down. We advised them that it was a bad calculation and that it would have been much better to organize rallies, even if in fewer numbers, in front of the White House instead. They didn't.

You'd be surprised to learn how many diasporans ask: "How come we are so patriotic while those who live in Armenia hate the country?" I want these diasporans to think about how they measure their patriotism and the patriotism of those living in Armenia. When you wake up in Los Angeles and feel concerned about Armenia, is that your definition of patriotism? Patriotism for the Armenian resident is to continue to live in Armenia despite hardships, to pay taxes to Armenia to keep the state alive, and to serve in the army. Having and maintaining a statehood is a very expensive and dangerous task. Sadly this perception is very weak in the diaspora. I love you all without exception, but many of you do not have the tradition of thinking from the perspective of an Armenian who builds and maintains a state, because you've never lived in Armenia for a considerable period.

REPORTER: Why do the diasporan organizations have bad relations with you? Do they, specifically the Russia-based organization, not like you because you've injected the topic of "old regime"? Do you refuse to work with them if they aren't loyal to the Pashinyan administration?

SINANYAN: It's the exact opposite. Diasporan organizations that have long held "monopoly" are refusing to help expand Armenia's ability to reach out to more diasporans who do not wish to be associated with these traditional organizations. *[TLDR: The Office is trying to reach out to diasporan Armenians who dislike ARF, so ARF is sabotaging the Office's efforts.]*

I'll give you a specific example. As soon as I became the head of the Office, the VERY FIRST thing I did was to visit Russia to meet Ara Abrahamyan, the head of the Union of Armenians in Russia. It was a meeting with Ara Abrahamyan and all the regional branch leaders. A very long meeting.

I conveyed to Abrahamyan that my Office would do absolutely everything they needed us to do. At the same time, I informed him that hundreds of thousands or possibly millions of Armenians living in Russia have been disenfranchised and do not have, or do not want to have, connections with Abrahamyan's organization, so while working with Abrahamyan, we simultaneously intended to also work with other organizations to establish a connection with even more Armenians.

The only thing we asked Abrahamyan was to accept that we would work with everyone. So we met with Abrahamyan's organization first, then organized meetings with other organizations. Abrahamyan's organization proceeded to sever the relationship with us.

The same about the Union of Armenians in Ukraine. They felt like they were the only organization that was supposed to have ties with us. I explained to them that the vast majority of Armenians in Ukraine had no affiliation with anyone, including their organization. We needed to reach out to them. I became the organization's enemy from that day forward.

The same about the you-know-which diasporan organization in France. I told them that I'd visit their organization first, at a date and time preferred by them, and that with my moves I'd advertise them as the biggest and best diasporan organization in France for symbolism. But I told them that I'd also meet with other diasporan organizations as well. They said "No". They didn't want us to cooperate with the other organization in the city of Nice because they are *"Turkish agents"*. They didn't want us to cooperate with another organization because they are competitors.

They wanted me to maintain the old model under which there was a monopoly by a few organizations that had failed to rally 90% of diasporan Armenians.

My Office will continue to work with everyone. We will continue to invite tens of highly skilled diasporan experts each year to help govern state offices, organize the Young Ambassador programs, summer camps to promote repatriation, and we will continue the efforts with diasporans to create the Diaspora Bond (financial) institution. //

TIGRAN YEKAVYAN, Paris-based analyst, Schiller University: Lately, [ARF's] Hay Dat office in France has been focused on right-wing and far-right circles. We are way behind when it comes to cooperation with the left wing. This is a major problem because it's important to maintain balance between right and left.

We also need our media to better document the individual war crimes and the ethnic cleansing committed by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh because that's the best way to get the message to the French organizations that monitor the situation. Their work, in turn, could help pressure the French government to take action against Azerbaijan or Aliyev. The French public opinion is already on Armenia's side, but it's still necessary to convince the state with the help of fact-finding initiatives. //

[video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5UYf_YCM6M) [video,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBTDayTQebE)

Dog settles down... for a year

Dog's party will not boycott the first session of the newly elected Yerevan Council. It gives the ruling party's Tigran Avinyan (incumbent) a solid chance to get elected. Hayk Marutyan was earlier trying to convince Dog to help trigger new elections. In the event of new elections, Dog's party risked being wiped out. The official reason behind Dog's refusal to trigger new elections: now is not a good time for new elections, save the money, help the refugees.

If Tigran Avinyan is elected, Dog's party will likely initiate a process to impeach him within a year. But he hates the former regime even more. He'd rather see Avinyan in charge than Tevanyan. He said if the former regime returns to power, Armenia will become a "gubernia" of another state and lose Syunik.

[article,](https://factor.am/695969.html) [article,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/270514)

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Link to original report and comments: https://old.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/16yijti/un_enters_empty_nagornokarabakh_diaspora/