Conflict leads to ambassadors being recalled between Belarus and Armenia.
As a result of worsening diplomatic relations between Armenia and Belarus, the two ex-Soviet nations have withdrawn their ambassadors from each other's countries to discuss the situation. This was confirmed by Anatoli Glaz from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry as quoted by Belta, the state news outlet.
The factor fueling the tension, according to Armenia's perspective, is that Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko is thought to have backed Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During discussions with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, Lukashenko reportedly acknowledged they'd talked about a gathering before the Nagorno-Karabakh war. "We had a deep philosophical chat over lunch and eventually reached the consensus that this war could be won," he said. Maintaining this victory is essential now, Lukashenko further stated. He referred to it as a liberation war.
The long-standing dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh traces back to the 1990s. In the past, this densely populated area with an Armenian majority, broke away from Baku amidst violent civil unrest. More than thirty years later, Azerbaijan's heavily equipped and oil-rich armed forces were able to regain control of Nagorno-Karabakh. This resulted in approximately 100,000 Armenians being forced to leave.
The political instability in Armenia intensifies due to its military defeat, with people protesting against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. They accuse him of being accountable for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh and maintaining a soft approach to Azerbaijan in other territorial disputes. Yesterday, numerous protesters were injured, and more than a hundred were apprehended during the demonstrations.
Read also:
- Amidst the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, many countries, including Azerbaijan's ally, Belarus, have expressed their support for Azerbaijan's position.
- In response to Belarus's perceived support for Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia recalled its ambassador as a form of protest.
- As a neutral nation, some diplomats, including the Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan, have called for mediation and support for a peaceful resolution to the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
