Shushi's Successful Defense Could Have Been a Turning Point in the War, PM

Despite the dire situation, the successful defense of Shushi could have been a turning point in the war. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made this statement during a session of the commission investigating the circumstances of the 44-day war in the National Assembly.

“Shushi plays a significant role here; this is not something that can be proven, but it is a matter of evaluation. Nevertheless, Shushi is at the brink of the Lachin corridor and Stepanakert, and its strategic significance is clear,” the Prime Minister stated.

He reminded attendees that the war could not cease according to Azerbaijan's logic as long as Shushi was under Armenian control. The chairman of the commission, Andranik Kocharyan, also noted that in the first war over Artsakh, Shushi held the same value, and after the liberation of the city, the situation quickly developed towards a ceasefire.

It is worth recalling that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke at the previous session of the investigative commission on June 20 regarding the agreements made with Azerbaijan to halt the fighting during the war, explained when the trilateral ceasefire statement was actually signed, and addressed the negotiation process for resolving the Artsakh issue, emphasizing that previous leaders of Armenia had given Azerbaijan time to prepare for the “best war.” He also discussed whether there was any possibility to maintain Shushi under Armenian control, among other topics.