December 29, 2020 - 17:00 AMT
Karabakh Security Council chief signals Facebook restrictions, sect ban

The Security Council chief of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Vitaly Balasanyan, has weighed in on post-war developments and changes expected to happen in Karabakh.

In an interview with Artsakh Public TV, Balasanyan said drug users have no place in Karabakh and will be thrown out of the country it they fail to abide by the law. He said all the offices serving various religious movements in Karabakh should be closed down immediately, as "we are followers of the Apostolic Church."

The Security Council chief said government officials and public employees won't be allowed to use their Facebook accounts during work hours. According to him, the President of Karabakh will no longer have social media presence.

Weighing in on the conflict, Balasanyan said "it remains to be seen" what situation the Republic of Azerbaijan will find itself in in a very short time: "I won't spill all the details, but we'll be watching."

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev on November 9 signed a statement to end the war in Karabakh after almost 45 days. Under the deal, the Armenian side has returned all the seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities.