17 Oct 2026
Ruben Vardanyan: Azerbaijan must acknowledge legitimacy of Artsakh state
Businessman and Artsakh’s former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan has responded to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s latest claims that Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh “have to either take up Azerbaijani citizenship or find another place of residence.”
"I believed that President Aliyev of Azerbaijan had competent advisers, but his recent statements have demonstrated that they are entirely worthless. I strongly recommend that he dismiss them, as the harsher the rhetoric becomes, the more likely it is that Mr. Aliyev will eventually face the International Tribunal at The Hague," he said in response to Business FM's request for comment on Tuesday.
"The forceful expulsion of 120,000 Armenians from their homeland by Azerbaijan will undoubtedly be a crime against humanity. Therefore, the more the people of Artsakh are subjected to oppression, the stronger our struggle will become, and unity will be forged against this agenda. As a result, no progress can be made in this regard.
"My position remains steadfast: the only way to resolve this issue is to commence normal negotiations within international mechanisms. Azerbaijan must acknowledge the legitimacy of the Artsakh state and its elected leaders. International negotiations must take place with the understanding that failure to do so will lead to a dead end," Vardanyan stated.
Latest news
Latest newsBulgaria Asks NATO to Strengthen Its Defences Amid Black Sea Threats: Sofia Fears Growing Risks to Maritime Shipping
16.Oct.2026
Black Sea Shipping Risks Threaten Bulgaria’s 5 Million Tonnes of Wheat Exports
15.Oct.2026
Georgia’s Foreign Funding and Political Ban Laws Draw Criticism from the Venice Commission
15.Oct.2026
Kazakhstan Promotes a Caspian Green Energy Corridor: Astana Seeks New Routes to the European Market
14.Oct.2026
Inflation in Romania Accelerates to 6.61%: Rising Prices Increase Pressure on Households and the Economy
13.Oct.2026
Can Europe Protect the International Criminal Court from Trump’s Sanctions?
13.Oct.2026
Georgia’s Constitutional Court Continues Case on Banning Opposition Parties: Political Pluralism at Stake
12.Oct.2026
Azerbaijan and Iran Step Up Security Contacts Amid Hijab Protests
12.Oct.2026
Personnel Shortages Complicate Ukrainian Forces’ Rotation: Ukraine Faces Long-Term Challenges on the Front Line
11.Oct.2026
Trump Eases Sanctions on Russian Fuel After Talks with Putin: Kyiv Fears Boost to Moscow’s War Revenues
10.Oct.2026
Putin Seeks to Strengthen Russia’s Influence in the Post-Soviet Space Through the CIS
10.Oct.2026
Russia and the South Caucasus: External Pressure, Political Competition and a Crisis of Trust
10.Oct.2026
Peaceful Settlement Between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Moving from Declarations to Implementation
10.Oct.2026
Moldova Ready to Accept as Many Ukrainians as Necessary if Situation Worsens This Winter
09.Oct.2026
Turkmenistan Turns Avaza into a Regional Diplomatic Hub as Caspian, Central Asian and CIS Agendas Converge
08.Oct.2026