Suren Petrosyan: Artsakh`s dissolution not only contradicts  international legal norms, but is also unconstitutional process

ArmInfo. The authorities of Armenia not only cannot protect the interests of Armenia, but they do  not even have such a goal. A similar opinion was expressed during a press conference on October 10 by Suren Petrosyan, chairman of the Democratic Consolidation party.  

"We see how many concessions we made  after the war, and which are still ongoing. We see that the Armenian  authorities abandoned Artsakh, supposedly in exchange for peace. But  this thesis has nothing to do with reality, and on the contrary  brings us even closer to war," he said.

Petrosyan drew attention to the fact that in connection with the  position of the current authorities on Artsakh, the demands of the  Azerbaijani side are growing - enclaves, a corridor, reparations,  appeal to an international court, etc. "Next, as a measure against  the aggressor country, restrictions will be introduced on our army  and total control over the Republic of Armenia.  And this is a threat  not only to our statehood, but also to our identity. We have actually  reached the point where not only our sovereignty, symbolism, but also  our very existence is being questioned," the party leader emphasized.

He noted that abandoning Artsakh is similar to the final abandonment  of the security system and our recovery potential. Petrosyan  identified Artsakh as a security gate and a key component of  identity.  The dissolution of Artsakh, according to the MP, not only  contradicts international legal norms, but is also unconstitutional.  In this regard, he emphasized that today the task is to restore the  constitutional order of the Republic of Artsakh, since they are  trying to abolish it through anti-constitutional mechanisms.   Petrosyan also noted that a number of documents in Yevlakh (during a  meeting between representatives of Stepanakert and Baku) were signed  under pressure, and, according to international law, can be canceled  because they contradict the two Vienna Conventions. "This whole  process is unconstitutional," he emphasized. In this regard,  Petrosyan called not to close the Artsakh's  chapter, and to keep  this issue on the agenda.

In turn, constitutional law expert, candidate of legal sciences  Vardan Ayvazyan presented the process of invalidating the decree of  the President of Artsakh on the dissolution of the state. According  to him, there is no institution for dissolving the state, especially  by the head of the Republic. "We must be grateful to the president  for the illogical and anti-constitutional document, because it  simplifies the process of invalidating it," the expert said. He  explained that the Constitution of Artsakh was adopted through a  referendum by the people, thus it continues to be in force, and its  effect can only be stopped by a new referendum and the adoption of a  new Constitution.

Ayvazyan said that in order to invalidate the presidential decree,  1/5 of the members of the National Assembly of Artsakh must appeal to  the Supreme Court of the Republic with a corresponding demand.

On September 28, 2023, President of the Republic of Artsakh Samvel  Shahramanyan signed a decree on actions arising from the situation  created after September 19, 2023. "According to the decree, in  connection with the current difficult military-political situation,  based on the priority of ensuring the physical security and vital  interests of the people of Artsakh, taking into account the agreement  reached through the mediation of the command of the Russian  peacekeeping contingent with representatives of the Republic of  Azerbaijan that free, voluntary and unhindered travel of residents of  Nagorno-Karabakh, including military personnel who have laid down  their arms, with their property on their vehicles along the Kashatagh  (Lachin) corridor, and guided by Article 93 of the Constitution of  Nagorno-Karabakh, the decision was made: 1. To dissolve all state  institutions and organizations under their departmental subordination  until January 1, 2024, and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)  ceases to exist. 2. The population of Nagorno-Karabakh, including  those outside the republic, after the entry into force of this  Decree, familiarize themselves with the conditions of reintegration  presented by the Republic of Azerbaijan, with a view to making an  independent and individual decision in the future on the possibility  of staying (returning) in Nagorno-Karabakh. . This Decree comes into  force immediately after publication," says the press service of the  NKR President.