Former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan spoke in an interview with TV5 about the documents signed on November 9, 2020, and August 8, 2025.
According to Modern.az, Kocharyan stated that at that time, no opposition representative demanded Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to annul the November 9 document, because everyone understood – this document was the formalization of defeat in the war. At the same time, everyone understood that this document was considered the last opportunity to protect Karabakh.
According to Kocharyan, at that time it was necessary to firmly adhere to this document and achieve its full implementation.
The ex-president added that the concept of “unimpeded road” in Article 9 of the document carries the same essence as an analogous document later signed in Washington. The difference is that in 2020, Karabakh existed, the Lachin corridor was operational, and that very Article 9 was included precisely to maintain symmetry with this corridor.
Kocharyan said that Armenia did everything in its power to ensure the departure of Russian peacekeepers from Karabakh.
He noted that Russia not only witnessed the November 9 document but also signed it and took responsibility for the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Karabakh.
"However, Armenia has essentially unilaterally refused to participate in this process".
"Armenia declared in Prague that it recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including "Artsakh". After this, what role does Russia play in relations with Azerbaijan? The mediation mission was canceled with this statement by the Republic of Armenia.
With this statement, the entire configuration of the conflict changed, because the leaders of the three countries signed a trilateral statement that the issue of Karabakh's status remained undefined and should be the subject of subsequent negotiations. In this case, Armenia says: I am not interfering in this matter; go and discuss the Karabakh issue with Azerbaijan as you wish. This also makes the status of Russian peacekeepers' presence uncertain. The loss of Karabakh is a direct consequence of the Prague declaration.
If we had believed that Russia should bear lifelong responsibility for Karabakh, if Armenia had not made that statement, I have no doubt that the five-year period would have been extended by another five years, and a political solution would have been offered. Perhaps the proposal rejected in 2019 would have been put on the table with some changes, and they would have tried to find a solution", noted the second president of Armenia.
