ANC: The loss of Artsakh and the weakening of Armenian statehood are  the main consequences of Pashinyan`s tenure

ArmInfo.The loss of Artsakh and the catastrophic weakening of Armenian statehood are the main consequences of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's tenure, as stated by the Armenian National Congress (ANC), the party of Armenia's first president, Levon Ter- Petrosyan, in response to Pashinyan's remarks  made on March 26.

Recall, at a briefing with journalists on March 26,  Pashinyan stated that the people of Artsakh "fled and did not fight," and called for no further discussion of the return of the Artsakh people to their homeland. The prime minister then again touched on the topic of Armenia's three former presidents, noting that "none of them were legitimate, and Armenia's first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, actually had dragged Armenia into this adventure."

"It turns out that Pashinyan knows absolutely nothing about the ancient, medieval, or modern history of Armenia. The Artsakh movement began with the official decision of the Council of People's Deputies of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO) on February 20, 1988, to which the Armenian people responded with mass demonstrations," the ANC mentioned in a Facebook post.

The party noted that they were initially led by public figures Zori Balayan and Igor Muradyan. It is recalled that other figures subsequently joined them, and as a result, Vano Siradeghyan, Ashot Manucharyan, Hambardzum Galustyan, Aleksan Hakobyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Samvel Gevorgyan, and Samson Ghazaryan gradually joined the first Karabakh Committee. The ANC added that Rafael Ghazaryan, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Babken Ararktsyan, and David Vardanyan were only included in the committee in late May 1988.

Further, addressing the motives behind the Armenian Prime Minister's statement, the ANC recalled that during Pashinyan's eight years in power, the country had experienced three armed conflicts, during which Armenia and Artsakh suffered catastrophic losses and defeats. As the party noted, first came the 44-day war of 2020, which occurred after the Armenian prime minister rejected the pro-Armenian settlement program for the Artsakh issue, guaranteed by Russia, the United States, and France (based on the Madrid Principles - ed.). Then, as the ANC continued, came the war of September 2022, during which, as a result of the Armenian prime minister's policy of rejecting the November 9, 2020, statement (ending hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone - ed.), Armenia's sovereign territories in Vardenis, Jermuk, and Syunik were lost. "And the 2023 war, which resulted from Pashinyan's recognition of Artsakh as Azerbaijani territory and ended in genocide and the forced displacement of the entire Artsakh population. The loss of Artsakh and the catastrophic weakening of Armenian statehood are the main consequences of Pashinyan's tenure. The Armenian Prime Minister is well aware that he has committed a crime against the Armenian people and is making pathetic attempts to avoid responsibility to the Armenian people and history," the party emphasized.

The ANC stated that the Artsakh movement of 1988 was aimed at protecting the fundamental rights of the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was initially constitutional and legal. "When Azerbaijan responded with military aggression, self-defense groups were formed in Artsakh, ensuring the safety and freedom of the Artsakh population. The Artsakh issue could have been resolved peacefully if the compromise settlement plan proposed by the international community had been accepted. The greatest 'adventure,' the greatest misfortune, was that this did not happen," the political party stated.

The party of Armenia's first president blamed Pashinyan for the events. "To avoid responsibility and cling to power, today he is trying to occupy the despicable role of viceroy, ensuring Azerbaijan's direct rule in Armenia. The 'peace' brought by Pashinyan is dependence on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Nothing more," the ANC noted. In light of the above, the party emphasized that it supports the process of normalizing and reconciling relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and has always held this position. However, unlike Pashinyan, it categorically rejects any attempts to limit Armenia's sovereignty or interfere in the country's internal affairs. "Pashinyan represents the main threat to Armenian statehood and sovereignty today, and the Armenian people will have a historic opportunity to oust him in the parliamentary elections in June, 2026," the ANC concluded.