Threatened with Blackmail: How the Former Presidents of Artsakh Surrendered

The newspaper "Hraparak" reports: "Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan admitted during an interview on October 28 that the Azerbaijani side demonstrated selective treatment. He was able to reach Sisian by helicopter, while the three former presidents were not transported by helicopter; they were kidnapped and taken captive from Stepanakert.

He stated on air, 'I cannot answer why such a decision was made by Azerbaijan, but I can conclude that those people who ended up in Azerbaijan were arrested and transferred to Baku for political purposes.' Shahramanyan was transported by helicopter with the acting commander of the Artsakh Defense Army and two of his security staff.

Our source close to Shahramanyan assured us that there were also negotiations for the former presidents regarding their transportation by helicopter to Armenia, but Azerbaijan did not agree. Furthermore, the ministers of the NSS and the Ministry of Internal Affairs crossing the checkpoint were taken hostage and declared, 'until the former presidents surrender, we will not release them.' Upon learning of this, the former presidents in Stepanakert surrendered to the Azerbaijani side, after which the Interior Minister Karen Sargsyan and NSS Director Ararat Melkumyan were allowed to cross the border, while Shahramanyan boarded the helicopter.

Our source explained this kind of 'friendliness' towards Shahramanyan by noting that the Azerbaijani side did not see the brief presidency of Shahramanyan as having the same 'symbolic' significance as that of the former presidents." Further details can be found in today’s issue of the newspaper.