Armenia’s parliamentary leadership has signaled growing concerns about the presence and influence of Nagorno-Karabakh refugees within Armenia. This stance was articulated by Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan, who indicated strong opposition to any form of governance by the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) on Armenian soil. The remarks were carried by News.am. Simonyan underscored that the continuation of Karabakh governance structures in Armenia would threaten national security rather than bolster state resilience.
The speaker elaborated that the association between Yerevan and Karabakh Armenians presents a significant challenge. He stated that maintaining and developing independent state institutions within Armenia is not feasible if it is perceived as a concession to a separatist framework; instead, he framed it as a potential security threat to the Republic of Armenia. He also called on fellow lawmakers to adopt a unified, cautionary stance on this matter.
In Armenia, there has been public discourse about relocating the government and parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh to exile, a position advocated by opposition forces. Aram Sargsyan, leader of the Democratic Party, argued that Karabakh residents retain the right to determine their own political arrangements, including forming an alternative governance structure in exile if necessary. This idea has circulated alongside broader debates about the region’s future and Armenia’s strategic posture.
On September 19, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense announced the launch of a local anti-terrorism operation aimed at curbing what it described as large-scale provocations in Nagorno-Karabakh. The ministry stated that the operation sought to neutralize threats and to disarm and withdraw Armenian military units from the region. The following day, a ceasefire agreement was reached with mediation by Russian peacekeepers. As part of the agreement, Karabakh’s armed formations would be disbanded, and heavy military equipment would be withdrawn and transferred under the supervision of the Russian contingent stationed in the area.
The operation triggered a wave of protests across Armenia, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of current leaders. The upheaval coincided with a mass displacement — more than 100,000 internally displaced persons from Karabakh sought refuge within Armenia’s borders. Concurrently, Nagorno-Karabakh’s authorities decided to discontinue the existence of the unrecognized republic as of January 1, 2024, effectively ending the political entity that had endured for decades. The broader regional dynamics continue to shape public sentiment and government policy in Armenia as it navigates these transitional moments.
Observers in the region have sometimes drawn comparisons to other geopolitical moments where regional stability hinges on complex national and international negotiations. The recent developments in Karabakh reflect a broader pattern of population movements, governance disputes, and security concerns that challenge both Armenian politicians and citizens alike. The situation remains fluid, with multiple actors weighing steps that could influence Armenia’s security architecture and its relations with neighboring powers, including Russia and Azerbaijan, as they monitor ceasefire commitments and the disposition of armed groups within Karabakh. (News.am)
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