Armenia
Sunday 18 April 2021
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“We abide by international law. We respect international law. We did not take revenge on civilians, we will never take revenge on civilians.”
While Azerbaijan’s president claims Armenia committed war crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh, the evidence shows both sides ran afoul of international law. -
“As a matter of fact, it is known that there is no such a movement called ’Grey Wolves‘, whose dissolution was announced today by the French Government.”
The Grey Wolves is affiliated with Turkey’s right-wing Nationalist Movement Party and its existence is well-documented. -
“To those who watch us, I now give you an opportunity to see footage from Nagorno Karabakh. This is a fragment of a surface-to-air fight, when they are trying to shut down airplanes. When you watch this, you'd think these are some Star Wars, so beautiful, not realizing that behind every such launch there are people's lives."
The footage Solovyov showed came from a video game called “Arma 3,” not Nagorno-Karabakh. -
“Armenia's kamikadze dron[e] was successfully destroyed by Azerbaijan's air defence forces. Dron[e] was whirling around civilian area. More civilian lives saved. Armenia's state terror continues.”
The drone appears to be a HAROP, an Israeli-made model used by Azerbaijan’s forces, not those of Armenia. -
“Rumors of militants from Syria allegedly being redeployed to Azerbaijan is another provocation by the Armenian side and complete nonsense.”
There is some evidence that Syrian fighters are in Azerbaijan, although the numbers cited by Armenian sources are questionable. -
“Azerbaijan has threatened to bomb the nuclear power plant in Armenia.”
Azerbaijan’s military did state that it would attack the Metsamor nuclear plant – but only in retaliation for an Armenian attack on its gas and oil facilities. -
“We are saddened that a slander against our country is being accepted by a country’s parliament. We would consider this accusation the biggest insult towards our nation.”
Despite Turkey’s denial, the Ottoman Empire’s mass killing, deportation and starvation of the Armenians in the 20th Century is a well-documented historic event widely recognized as genocide. -
“The Russian side knows nothing about Giuliani’s participation [in an Eurasian Economic Union Supreme Council forum in Armenia], [or] the cancellation of his participation.”
In accordance with an agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a commission in Russia decides who will be invited to participate in and speak at meetings of the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU) Supreme Council. -
“Probably, the level of integration in the CIS format is not the same as in the Eurasian Union... But this is a common story. These are, as we say, variable-speed tracks of integration.”
Looking at all of Russia’s main trading partners, only one has seen the share of trade dramatically increase over the past decade. -
“I note that we’ve never, even in the days of tsarist Russia, killed people for dissent. This, by the way, is the great strength of our people.”
Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union have persecuted dissidents, sometimes using capital punishment. Modern Russia has abolished the death penalty, although a number of dissidents and journalists have been murdered, their cases remaining unsolved. -
“It’s a provocation, specifically to coerce the Russian delegation to slam the door and pull out of PACE.”
The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly's letter sent to Russia and all other member states proved Slutsky’s claim was false. The letter said all PACE delegations should include at least “one member of the under-represented sex appointed as a representative.” -
“We love and are proud of President Vladimir Putin, because he is a friend of Palestine and not only Palestine, but all the people who are seeking freedom. President Putin succeeded in restoring Russia’s authority in the international arena and forced all to respect Russia.”
Independent polls show trust and respect for Russia and its president has significantly decreased globally. Under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Russia has suppressed insurgencies in Chechnya and in Syria. Moscow has lost its membership or voting privileges in multiple international organizations.