"The guarantor's mediation weakens Armenia's positions."
03-08-2026 19:30 Politics
1in.am Peace is peace, but no Armenian should visit Azerbaijan as long as there is at least one Armenian imprisoned in connection with the events in Nagorno-Karabakh. And every time this non-visit should be clearly justified by the presence of imprisoned Armenians in Azerbaijan, wrote an Armenian user from Yerevan on Facebook, as it is clear from their personal page. A few days ago, a young Armenian wrestler defeated all his opponents in Baku, and the flag of Armenia was raised in his honor in the capital of Azerbaijan, with our anthem played.
This occasion has also sparked intense discussions in Azerbaijan. An Azerbaijani user on social media, responding to insults directed at Armenia and the Armenian people, wrote that the victory of the Armenian wrestler in Baku is "as much Armenia's as it is, perhaps even more, Azerbaijan's." He justified that when "one of the organizers burned the Azerbaijani flag at the opening of a sports event in Armenia," the Azerbaijani team "interrupted their participation and returned, and the world criticized not Azerbaijan, but Armenia for what happened and for intolerance."
Does the victory of the Armenian wrestler in Baku "bring closer the repatriation of Armenian hostages"? If we assess it objectively, the answer to the question is "no." However, it does not follow that Armenia's non-participation in sports, cultural, or political events in Baku "brings closer the release of the captives." It should be remembered that some of the prisoners of war have returned to Armenia from Baku within the framework of Armenian-Azerbaijani agreements, and that is the result of long-term work.
The issue of individuals unlawfully held in Baku has a pronounced context of both domestic politics and public sentiment for understandable reasons. Nevertheless, the primary responsibility for their future fate lies with the Armenian state, the authority whose actions taken, being taken, and to be taken in this direction are not public and are not subject to public disclosure.
The newly elected National Assembly has entered into its powers. And, as the first sessions suggest, the opposition accuses the prominent representatives of the ruling "Civil Contract" party of having had "contacts with the Turks" in the past. It can be confidently said that the topic will not be closed with the election of Ruben Rubinyan as the Speaker of the National Assembly; it will be "updated" every time in connection with the situation.
What specific purpose does this pursue? It is clear. But it is "obvious," practically the issue boils down to whether there should be a bilateral Armenian-Azerbaijani and Armenian-Turkish resolution or a resolution "with the mediation of a guarantor." The topic of "returning the captives" is only a partial manifestation of that question. The "guarantor's mediation" effectively weakens Armenia's positions in relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. This includes the issue of the repatriation of individuals unlawfully held in Baku.
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
ENGLISH
