After the 44-day war, Azerbaijan has adopted the strategy of regular provocations against Artsakh, which is aimed at disappointing the Artsakh Armenians. Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan said this in an interview with Artsakh Public Television.

Ruben Vardanyan was not surprised by the Azerbaijani provocation of December 3, keeping the Lachin corridor closed for three hours.

“For Azerbaijanis, it was surprising that 35-40 thousand people could come out to the square. My appointment was also unexpected for them. Interest in Artsakh was created in the world’s press, changes took place in Artsakh. They responded to all this. Azerbaijan wants to do everything so that very few people live in Artsakh, have no faith in the future, do not believe in success, and leave. These provocations are not related to my name, although it is their president who is talking about me, these are the reasons why I came here. Because I think that it will be possible to destroy the Azerbaijani provocations if people unite, both in Artsakh and in Armenia,” said Vardanyan.

Ruben Vardanyan believes that the December 3 provocation will not be the last. Azerbaijanis will especially want to take advantage of the difficult winter conditions.

“We are going to have a hard winter. These are not isolated cases, this is the Patriotic War. Yes, we don’t have daily combat operations and casualties, but we have a situation where we have to be sensitive. I am here and my friends are here to show by our example that we will not leave here.

We see one way for relations with Azerbaijan: if they accept that Artsakh will be an independent country from Azerbaijan. We need to find a formula to live side by side but apart. There is no peace, we must be ready for the daily struggle,” Vardanyan emphasized.