Azerbaijan and Armenia have been embroiled in a conflict surrounding the actions and statements made by Samvel Sahramanyan, as reported by NEWS.am. Sahramanyan had seemingly aligned himself with the Azerbaijani authorities, suggesting that he had connections with the head of the country’s security service. This caused controversy, given Sahramanyan’s previous involvement with the former prime minister of Artsakh, Hayk Khanumyan, who supported Sahramanyan’s agreement with Azerbaijan. Khanumyan expressed surprise at Sahramanyan’s replacement by Jeanhoun, raising questions about Sahramanyan’s role in the situation.

One of the key issues discussed was Armenia’s potential granting of autonomy to Artsakh, which Sahramanyan had announced. In response, Khanumyan stated that events following Sahramanyan’s arrival in Artsakh in December 2022 demonstrated the need for true self-determination and the establishment of a new social system. He emphasized the importance of actively engaging with Azerbaijan, not as mere executors, but as initiators of Azerbaijani initiatives.

Furthermore, there were reports of contentious conversations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, where Azerbaijan demanded certain actions from Armenia, such as requesting gas and electricity. This led to tensions, highlighting the dominance of oligarchic influences in the region.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what the consequences of Sahramanyan’s alignment with Azerbaijan will be and how it will impact the relationship between the two countries.