Day: April 3, 2024

Китай, Саудовская Аравия и Индонезия в частном порядке призывают ЕС не конфисковывать замороженные активы РФ и продолжать сопротивляться “давлению” со стороны США и Великобритании в этом вопросе, пишет издание Politico. В качестве одного из аргументов против конфискации активов… pic.twitter.com/uUjlVvyPU0

— DW на русском (@dw_russian) April 3, 2024

Rostov – One of Russia’s hubs for it’s multi-billion dollar stolen Ukrainian grain industry has just blown up. pic.twitter.com/VSM2b60q5R

— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) April 3, 2024

YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—A former Nagorno-Karabakh official who did not flee the region right after its recapture by Azerbaijan has been arrested on espionage charges after unexpectedly arriving in Armenia late last week.

The man, Sargis Galstyan, and his wife were among a few dozen Karabakh Armenians who did not flee to Armenia following last September’s Azerbaijani military offensive that triggered the mass exodus of Karabakh’s population.

Galstyan is a veteran of the 1991-1994 war with Azerbaijan who held various Karabakh leadership positions in the following decades. His decision to stay in Stepanakert fueled speculation that he is collaborating with Azerbaijani authorities. Galstyan did not publicly explain it. It is also not clear why he ultimately decided to leave Karabakh together with his wife.

Sources told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Wednesday that the couple entered Armenia through the Lachin corridor last Friday. According to Armenia’s Investigative Committee, Galstyan was remanded in custody and charged with espionage the following day.

“In the interests of the investigation, additional information cannot be released at this point,” said Gor Abrahamyan, the committee spokesman.

Galstyan and his wife were escorted to the Armenian border by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Zara Amatuni, an ICRC spokeswoman in Yerevan, said it acted in accordance with “the will and desire of those persons.”

“In total, we have helped more than 50 people voluntarily move to Armenia [from Karabakh] since October,” Amatuni told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Galstyan’s nephew Davit is a prominent Karabakh politician who is now exiled in Yerevan along with other Karabakh Armenian leaders. Davit Galstyan insisted on Wednesday that he lost contact with his uncle in September and did not know that the latter decided to move to Armenia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday cautioned President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan against what he called “aggressive actions” that could undermine prospects for peace.

“The Secretary underscored that there is no justification for increased tension on the border and cautioned that aggressive actions and rhetoric from any side would undermine prospects for peace,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a readout of a phone call between Blinken and Aliyev on Wednesday.

“Secretary Blinken and President Aliyev discussed the importance of advancing the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which would bring economic benefits to the entire region,” Miller said.

“The Secretary reiterated the need for Azerbaijan to adhere to its international obligations and commitments regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms and urged the release of those unjustly detained,” added Miller.

“The Secretary reinforced the importance of the U.S.-Azerbaijan bilateral relationship and highlighted a growing number of partnership initiatives, including energy and climate priorities,” the state department said.

The Azerbaijani APA news agency reported that Blinken phoned Aliyev to explain that his meeting on Friday with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is not directed against Azerbaijan.