Scholar criticizes false narrative on Artsakh exodus

PanARMENIAN.Net - The forced displacement of Artsakh Armenians is consistently being presented within the domestic political discourse as “escape,” Doctor of Law Gevorg Danielyan said on his Facebook page, commenting on the metro incident involving Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and an Artsakh woman.

“After nearly a year of unprecedented blockade, followed by a large-scale war, the forced displacement of Artsakh Armenians—exhausted by these conditions—is unfortunately being consistently ignored at the domestic political level and presented as if they voluntarily left their place of permanent residence—an ‘escape.’

Even the undeniable fact is ignored that in this unequal war, not only 129 soldiers who resisted were killed, but also civilians—women, children, and the elderly (data with names and military units have been published online). According to official Azerbaijani statements, their side suffered even higher losses—192 fatalities.

Of course, the theses about ‘fleeing’ and the artificially attached claim that ‘the Artsakh issue is closed’ are based on sub-theses that completely lack internal logic. Addressing them now is still pointless, but they represent valuable material in the context of future developments.

Let us only emphasize that restricting the right of peoples to self-determination is in deep contradiction with the UN Charter and international treaties that define the essence of statehood,” Danielyan wrote.