Arzumanian: Crimea referendum could not have been fair

The festivity held in Nagorno Karabakh in connection with the referendum in Crimea seems quite questionable, ex-Foreign Minister of Armenia, opposition deputy of the parliament Alexander Arzumanian told reporters today.

A festive concert and a display of fireworks took place at Rebirth Square of Stepanakert on March 18. The event was attended by high-ranking officials of the unrecognized republic, including President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakian and the parliamentary speaker Ashot Ghulian.

Arzumanian stressed the need to refrain from expressing one’s position at the moment.

“It is dangerous to do it now. Yet such a festivity was held yesterday in Nagorno Karabakh as though Artsakh became a member of the UN Security Council. It means that Russia made the Armenian side react that way,” Arzumanian said.

He expressed hope that Armenia will be able to explain to its strategic partner that it considers it important to maintain good relations with Ukraine, Russia, as well as the EU.

“At the same time I don’t accept that a fair referendum was held in Crimea. Russia seized Crimea and its army used force there, according to the international mass media. Under such conditions, a fair election is out of the question,” Arzumanian noted.
He also commented on statements of Russian political scientists and the Russian State Duma deputy Vladimir Zhirinovsky to the effect that Nagorno Karabakh should join Russia.

“I don’t care what Russian political scientists think about the Karabakh conflict. They had better think about their own problems, for example, alcoholism,” the deputy said.

We would remind you that a referendum was held in Crimea on March 16. The overwhelming majority of voters backed the Crimean peninsula joining the Russian Federation. On March 18 Russia and Crimea signed a treaty on Crimea joining the RF.