In 1997 RA law on the title of the “National Hero of Armenia” hasn’t been changed yet. Accordingly, Nikolai Ryzhkov wasn’t a RA National Hero yet. That was to follow. Our tankers were to participate in “Tank biathlon” international competition, initiated by RF Ministry of Defense. They’d participate being leaders of the competitions, and would slow down in the last minutes. They’d slow down, so that Russian tankers were the winners. And RF Ministry of Defense would award a prize—T-90 tank, to our tankers for holding the second place. It’d promise, but wouldn’t give. Such a sound military-technical cooperation.
Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh Republic) Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) has published a report on atrocities committed by Azerbaijani Armed Forces against the civilian population of the NKR and the servicemen of the NKR Defense Army during the period of 2-5April 2016. As 168.am was informed from the press service of NKR Ombudsman, the announcement reads as follows,,
It’s noteworthy, that Lavrov himself has repeatedly denied existence of such a document. This was also denied by Igor Popov, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair (Russia), stating no Russian plans are available at the negotiation table, moreover, he added, “There are proposals by the Co-chairs, which have been discussed throughout recent years in this or that form. A few variants are available, however, they’re based on three principles and six elements of the conflict settlement, which have repeatedly been stated by the Co-chairs. Let me remind about these principles: the right to self-determination, exclusion of the use of force, territorial integrity, and most important among the six basic elements are the return of the territories and the status settlement of NKR.
“These tales about Russia and the USA have been heard for about 25 years. There is no perception here what is an ally, different standpoints have led our country for two decades, which have been sanctified: the world is against us, we have no friends, we have no way out and we should find a common language with our neighbors at any price, and that childish romanticism deepened to a degree that, in general, acquisition of simple political mentality became impossible for our politicians. If they are deeply convinced in such fake things, they’ll never obtain political mentality, even if they learn much. What does an ally mean? Does an Armenian know of this? We don’t have allies. It seems to some people that the Armenian nation was just simply massacred in 1915. They did it, as people didn’t know what sharp criticism, power, self-determination meant. They don’t even know now. If you don’t know, how do you want to live? You’ll put your life under the feet of the world.”
“I’d like to focus on the second approach. There is International Criminal Court (ICC), which examines crime, including the one against humanity and military crime, which are scandalous or attached attention of the international community. That court was founded as a result of Nuremberg and Tokyo trials. The process was launched yet in 1945, however, it was frozen until 1998, when Roman status has been adopted, which entered into force in 2002. That is, ICC may examine cases regarding all types of crime, which have been planned by the Statute and took place since 2002. However, as you know, international courts are based on international accords and have certain features. One of them is the fact that it may examine only cases referring to crimes committed in the territories of the countries having joined the Statute, or infringement was committed towards the citizens, the state of which has also joined the Statute. ”
Russian media outlets are silent on why Russia intends to settle a conflict, unsettlement of which is a crucial component of Russia-led foreign policy. They are silent that its main purpose is Azerbaijan’s membership to EEU. Russian media outlets are silent that for that membership the Russian side was obliged to exert pressure over Armenia to redeem those territories to Azerbaijan.
