A tense and emotional dialogue took place yesterday in the Yerevan metro between an Artsakh refugee woman and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who stated that the woman’s son should live in Armenia. The incident quickly spread and sparked heated discussions among the public.
Refugee Woman Confronts Pashinyan Over Artsakh Return
The woman confronted Pashinyan, stating, “We will not allow ourselves to be deprived of the hope of returning to Artsakh. We are late for a chess tournament; otherwise, we would have gotten off the wagon.” She also demanded that Pashinyan not shout at her or wag his finger.
Pashinyan responded, “We did everything for you to live in Karabakh, and in 2023, it was you who accused me of closing the borders so that people from Karabakh would not come to Armenia, and you demanded that I open the borders and said that they were specifically closed so that people from Karabakh would not go. Now you have come here and say, ‘Oh, we wanted to return,’ but we spent billions earned by Armenian citizens for you to stay there, so why didn’t you stay? Don’t speak about this map with such contempt. Don’t try to say that I gave Karabakh away by running away.”
Pashinyan’s Stance on Artsakh Citizens and Armenian Citizenship
In response, the woman stated that if the authorities found a few Artsakh residents who support them, it does not mean that tens of thousands of Artsakh residents share such an opinion. Pashinyan countered, “Tens of thousands of Artsakh residents have today received Armenian citizenship and live in Armenia.”
The woman noted that they were forced to do so because people need to pay rent. At the same time, the woman mentioned that they had previously lived with Armenian citizen passports.
“The child wants to return to Artsakh, to grandpa’s grave… Today is a very unsuccessful day for me,” the woman said.
Public Reaction and Apology
The emotional exchange between Pashinyan and the Artsakh woman quickly gained traction, leading to widespread public debate. Following the incident, Prime Minister Pashinyan issued an apology to the Artsakh refugee woman and her child, inviting her to a new meeting.
The Prime Minister stated, “I apologize to the Karabakh woman, her little one, and invite her to a new meeting.” This apology came yesterday, March 22, at 20:40, according to local news reports.
Context of the Incident
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and emotional struggles faced by Artsakh refugees following recent events. The desire to return to their homeland remains a significant sentiment among many displaced individuals, while the Armenian government works to integrate them into Armenian society.
The dialogue also sheds light on the complexities of the political situation and the different perspectives on the past and future of Artsakh.
