How Nikol Pashinyan Deceived the Armenian People: Episode 7

On October 5, 2022, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, delivered a speech in the National Assembly, accusing Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, and former foreign minister, Vartan Oskanian, of having recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. In particular, he stated:

“The moment Armenia accepted the ‘Madrid Principles’ as the basis for negotiations, it recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.”

Pashinyan’s claim was false, as the Madrid Principles, among other provisions, explicitly referred to the right of Artsakh to self-determination - a concept that cannot be interpreted as recognition of Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan.

In a discussion with experts on September 18, 2020, Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, emphasized that the Madrid Principles are the only international document that clearly enshrines the right of the Armenians of Karabakh to self-determination.