Ruben Vardanyan, who was dismissed on February 23 from the post of head of the government of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, announced his intention to remain in Karabakh.
“I know that there is pressure in connection with my stay in Artsakh, but I will note that I am not going to leave anywhere. I will work here, ”Interfax quotes Vardanyan.
Earlier, at a plenary session within the framework of the Munich Security Conference, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that he was ready to discuss rights and security with the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, provided that Vardanyan leaves this territory.
Last September, the Russian billionaire renounced his Russian citizenship and moved to Nagorno-Karabakh (called Artsakh in Armenia). He was appointed prime minister of the republic in early November, and at the end of December, Vladimir Putin granted Vardanyan's application for renunciation of citizenship.
On February 23, President of the unrecognized republic Arayik Harutyunyan signed a decree on the dismissal of Ruben Vardanyan from the post of head of government. He held this post for 3.5 months. Gurgen Nersisyan, the Prosecutor General of the unrecognized republic, has been proposed to head the government.
The NKR has been under blockade since mid-December: the only road linking the republic with Armenia, the Lachin corridor, was blocked by people brought by the Azerbaijani authorities who call themselves "eco-activists". A shortage of essential goods began in the republic, food cards were introduced. The NKR authorities report regular cuts of gas and electricity.
On February 22, the International Court of Justice in The Hague partially satisfied the claim of Armenia and ordered Azerbaijan to "take all measures at its disposal to ensure the unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and goods along the Lachin corridor in both directions." The counterclaim of Azerbaijan, which accused Armenia of transporting mines through the Lachin corridor, was rejected by the court.