Russian President Vladimir Putin expects that Azerbaijan will be guided by considerations of a humanitarian nature with regards to the detention of of former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan and other ex-leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“I spoke, as you know, on the phone with President [of Azerbaijan Ilham] Aliyev. But we also talked about this before… he assured me that no matter what happens, he will ensure the security and rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh,” Putin said, according to Sputnik Armenia.
But now, according to him, there are no Armenians left there.
“There are simply no Armenians there, maybe 1000-1500, that’s all. Well, that’s it, there’s just no one there. As for the former leaders, I don’t know, I don’t want to go into details, but as far as I understand it, there aren’t particularly wanted by Yerevan either,” the Russian President added.
At the same time, according to Putin, he expects that given that all territorial issues have been resolved for Baku, the leadership of Azerbaijan will still be guided by considerations of a humanitarian nature.
On September 27, the Azerbaijani military detained former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan and former deputy commander of the Karabakh Defense Army David Manukyan while the two were leaving Stepanakert.
On September 29, ex-army commander, Lieutenant General Levon Mnatsakanyan and former Foreign Minister David Babayan were detained.
On October 3, the detention of three former presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan was confirmed.
