Crimea may become tempting precedent in Karabakh issue: expert

PanARMENIAN.Net - The head of Alte et Certe analytical center believes that the situation in Crimea may be used as a precedent in the attempt to resolve the Karabakh issue.

“The whole Western legislation system is built on the rule of precedents,” Andrey Yepifantsev told PanARMENIAN.Net As he further noted, should Crimea get annexed to Russia, the fact might become a strong precedent, with Yerevan and Stepanakert tempted to follow the suit in resolving the Karabakh issue.

“The annexation, should it come to pass, will lead to serious alteration of the post-Yalta system of the international law, based on the inviolability of borders. A party initiating the move would become an object of serious pressure from those interested in preservation of the existing order. in the present case, Russia won’t be vulnerable in the face of pressure - with no military resistance expected, the suggested economic sanctions more harmful to those who imposed them and political ostracizing of no particular concern to Moscow," the expert said.

As he noted, Russia has the capability of breaking the system. "What about Armenia? Does it feel invulnerable enough to stand the pressure of the world powers? Are its citizens ready to suffer from the deteriorating economy brought over by sanctions? Are they ready for a war with Azerbaijan? Only Armenia can answer those questions," the Russian analyst concluded.

The parliament of Crimea, a majority ethnic Russian region within Ukraine, declared independence on Tuesday, March11, ahead of a popular vote on secession and annexation by Russia.

The declaration comes as the latest attempt to shore up the legal basis of the upcoming referendum, which is scheduled for Sunday but has been declared unconstitutional by the country’s central leadership in Kyiv.

A representative of the regional parliament’s press office said that 78 of 100 MPs voted to declare independence.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence on September 2, 1991.