Armenian opposition wants to start National Committee to impeach govt.
4 Min Read
"The parliamentary opposition will start the impeachment process", Ishkhan Saghatelyan said during a protest outside the government building.
-
Children are in a shelter during shelling in Stepanakert in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 (AP Photo/Siranush Sargsyan)
The chairman of the Armenia Alliance -- the main opposition group in the parliament -- declared on Wednesday that it wanted to take the lead in a nationwide drive to remove the government for the way it handled the recent escalation of conflict in the contentious Nagorno-Karabakh region.
"We need to create a special body called a national committee … We are working out an action plan that will lead to the government’s dismissal. Under this plan, the parliamentary opposition will start the impeachment process," Ishkhan Saghatelyan said during a protest outside the government building.
Read: Fear of new war between Armenia, Azerbaijan looms: Report
Azerbaijan began an "anti-terrorist operation" in Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday, using high-precision weapons to target local forces. The attack on the area with a preponderance of Armenians was characterized as aggression by Armenia.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry declared the next day that a deal had been struck about the cessation of counterterrorism operations in Nagorno-Karabakh and the disarmament of what it referred to as illegal Armenian formations.
In the 1990s, Armenia defeated Azerbaijan and took control of the region, which is an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan. Thirty years later, the latter took revenge.
In 2020, clashes erupted between the two countries and ended after a Russian-mediated ceasefire was signed in November of that year. The agreement mandated that around 2,000 Russian peacekeeping forces were to be stationed at the Lachin corridor, the only remaining passage between Armenia and the region.
So far, EU-led efforts to reach a permanent peace deal between the two countries have failed to produce any results, leaving the region mired in the shadow of impending instability and unrest.
It is noteworthy that in May, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that Armenia recognized the region as Azerbaijani territory. However, the situation has since taken a troubling turn, with accusations flying from both sides.
US military exercise in Armenia ensues despite Azerbaijan's escalation
US-partnered training exercise in Armenia remains unaffected by renewed clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh, which erupted after Azerbaijan initiated an "anti-terrorism" operation in the region.
According to US Army Europe and Africa spokesman Terry Welch, the exercise will conclude as scheduled on Wednesday.
Concerns about the safety of US military personnel involved in the training exercise were addressed by Welch, who said that they are not currently at risk amid the escalating situation in Nagorno Karabakh.
Armenia will not be led into war
After Azerbaijan announced the operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday that Yerevan will not take any miscalculated moves in the context of the heightened tension in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that Baku had initiated regional "anti-terrorist activities" within the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh area with the aim of "restoring the constitutional order." Due to a lack of military action, angered demonstrators in Yerevan blocked the Tigran Mets avenue in close proximity to the government premises amidst the mounting tension.
"We should not take any miscalculated, abrupt... steps at the moment," Pashinyan said in a video message posted on social media.
"As expected, statements are being made from various places to carry out a coup in Armenia... It is very important that the rule of law is respected in Armenia and stability is maintained since the violation of law and order and stability is the goal set by the forces seeking to act against the Republic of Armenia," he added.
