Three years after the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020, there is no peace either in Artsakh or in Eastern Armenia, there are new human and territorial losses.
Although three years ago on this day, with the mediation of Russia, Eastern Armenia and Baku undertook to stop military operations and stop the occupied positions, in the past three years, Baku has only occupied around 130 square kilometers of Armenia, and Artsakh as a whole.
Today, the Azerbaijani military is 4.5 kilometers away from Jermuk, instead of 11 kilometers before. According to the residents of Jermuk, the Azerbaijani soldiers continue to remain in the streets of the city and are noticeable even with the unarmed eye.
The Azerbaijanis advanced 1-2 kilometers in the direction of Nerkin Hand of Syunik marz and, according to local residents, occupied most of the positions. Today, this border village is deprived of drinking water and the opportunity to engage in animal husbandry. Children and women left the village. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have gained positional advantages in the direction of Shorzhan in Gegharkunik Marz.
According to the agreements reached three years ago, Russian peacekeepers will remain in Artsakh until 2025. What will happen after that? Everything depends on Russia. If in 2025 Moscow is so weakened that Baku can impose its agenda and not allow the extension of the peacekeepers’ term, then this will cause new tensions.
The statement of November 9 mentions the return of refugees. The head of Baku announces that all those who lived in Artsakh before 1988 and are refugees will have the right to return to Artsakh. Now the question arises: if they do not get this status in Eastern Armenia, then it is very likely that the people of Artsakh will not be able to return.
Western Armenia has repeatedly stated that the people of Artsakh should return to their native territories.
War crimes have shown that Armenians and Azerbaijanis are still not ready to live in the same place, and in this case, Artsakh is a de jure native Armenian territory and Armenians have every right to return to their homes.