Arman Babajanyan, the chairman of the “For the Republic” party, wrote on his Facebook page:
“The Russian ambassador, in his letter to the RA Minister of Defense, crosses all acceptable boundaries, reserving the right to interfere in the internal affairs of Armenia and publicly condemn the point of view expressed by Artsrun Hovhannisyan, describing it as a “justification of fascism.”
Who are you, Mr. Ambassador?
You are the representative of the state that has played a direct role in the depopulation of Artsakh since 2020. In November 2020, Russian peacekeeping forces entered Artsakh to guarantee the security of the population. However, in just three years, on September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan carried out a large-scale attack, during which the Russian side did nothing, becoming an accomplice to that attack.
According to the data of that day, a mass deportation of Armenians was carried out in Artsakh in the presence of Russian peacekeepers. In just one week, more than 100,000 Artsakh Armenians were forced to leave their native land. This was mass ethnic cleansing, with your direct consent.
You represent a country whose silence destroyed, in your opinion, dozens of monuments dedicated to the Great Patriotic War in the territory of Artsakh, including memorial stones installed in the regions of Martakert, Askeran, Shushi, Hadrut, and Kashatagh. In Shushi, Azerbaijanis broke and destroyed memorial signs with the names of the heroes of the war of 1941-1945. More than 45,000 people from Artsakh participated in that war, 22,000 of whom did not return, and about a dozen Artsakh residents were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, including Marshal Hovhannes Baghramyan and Marshal Babajanyan, who was born in the village of Chardakhlu.
What happened to your respect for them when khachkars were being destroyed, graves were being desecrated, and monuments were being removed in their homeland? Where was your voice?
You represent a country that, since May 2021, has not fulfilled its allied obligations during the Azerbaijani invasions of the sovereign territory of Armenia, Gegharkunik, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor by not responding to the violation of the CSTO charter. Your state’s response was: “Borders are not drawn.”
And now, after you remained silent during the violence, displacement, desecration of the sacred, and the destruction of history against the Armenian people, you dare to speak in a public letter about the values, memories, and beliefs of our society.
No. You have neither the moral, political, or historical right to evaluate us.
You represent a country that is silent in times of attack but teaches us a lesson in times of peace.
The right to truth is ours. And you, do not interfere.”
