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In the early hours of Tuesday, Russia mobilized troops on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the already established “peacekeeping” formula. These troops were officially deployed following a ceasefire agreement, presented “in peace” in Moscow, between Azerbaijan and the Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh. A fragile deal that has sparked joy in Baku and anger in Yerevan, where the post of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is under threat.
According to the agreement signed on Monday night, a few hours after the downing of a Russian military helicopter in southern Armenia, Baku will retain its conquered territories in Nagorno-Karabakh after the resumption of hostilities on September 27, including Shusha, considered the officially official “Jerusalem” of this region. of Azerbaijan. In addition, the Armenian separatists must surrender control of other territories before December 1.
For their part, the Russians, who allowed the fighting between Azerbaijanis and Armenians and sold arms to both sides, now come to the region as “peacemakers.” A formula already applied in other frozen conflicts, such as the one in Transnistria. On Tuesday 1,960 Russian soldiers were sent to settle on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and in the corridor that separates Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh. In addition, Russia has deployed 90 armored personnel carriers, 380 car units and special equipment. The command of the so-called Russian peacekeeping forces will be in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“We start from the principle that the agreement will produce the necessary conditions for a complete and long-term settlement of the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh, on an equitable basis and in the interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
If the Azeris, backed by the Turks, welcomed the agreement, the Armenians were furious to read the conditions imposed by their Russian “ally”.
In Baku, people took to the streets and danced for joy. “Karabah is Azerbaijan”, “We are back,” chanted the Azeris.
Joy in Baku after the deal on Monday night PHOTO EPA-EFE
In Yerevan, hundreds of people reacted angrily. The protesters attacked government buildings and demanded a meeting with Nikol Pasinian. “We will not surrender,” the Armenians protested, calling their prime minister a “traitor” and demanding his “resignation.”
Protesters enter the Armenian Parliament PHOTO EPA-EFE
Pashinian, after agreement imposed by Russian “ally”: “Incredibly painful”
In a post on social media, Paşinain described the deal as “incredibly painful.” The Armenian prime minister said he had made the decision after “a thorough analysis of the situation at the front and talks with various experts on the matter.” “It is not a victory, but there is no defeat until you consider yourself defeated,” he added in an attempt to save his skin.
Coming to power in 2018 as a result of a popular movement, Pasinian is now under pressure to resign. 17 parties have asked him to resign as prime minister, an option that suits Moscow.
Therefore, after profiting financially by selling weapons and witnessing the massacre, Russia now hopes to re-freeze the conflict and increase its military presence in the region.
However, the duration of the new ceasefire agreement is unknown, given that the three agreed so far have not lasted even a few hours. It could be expanded, if appropriate, by political pressure on Yerevan and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure in Baku, two other control tools that Moscow also applies in former Soviet Union member states.
Azerbaijan, in turn, insists on installing Turkish “peacekeepers” in the region.
The Nagorno-Karabakh war has killed at least 1,300 people since September 27, according to very biased reports.
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