Plans for revenge in Yerevan remain on the agenda—this was recently confirmed by the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan. During a meeting with European parliamentarians in Yerevan, he tearfully complained that “international humanitarian law has failed in Nagorno-Karabakh,” repeated clichés about “ethnic cleansing,” the mythical “Azerbaijani aggression,” and “vandalism against Armenian monuments,” while lamenting that the international community’s reaction was insufficient to prevent these so-called events.
Of course, the Armenian Speaker should be reminded that his country was the aggressor. Restoring territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders cannot be considered aggression. Moreover, humanitarian law was already violated in Karabakh in the 1990s, during the occupation of Azerbaijani lands and the ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis, including the Khojaly genocide.
Furthermore, there was no “ethnic cleansing of Armenians” in Karabakh—from the beginning, Karabakh Armenians were offered Azerbaijani citizenship and full civil rights. However, many refused to stay where Azerbaijan’s lawful sovereignty was restored, possibly out of fear of being held accountable for their past crimes during the occupation.
If true ethnic cleansing or destruction of Armenian monuments had occurred in Karabakh, Simonyan’s outbursts might be understandable. However, he is deliberately spreading disinformation with one goal: to keep the conflict simmering in anticipation of an opportunity for revenge.
A military comeback for Armenia is unrealistic in the foreseeable future, especially since Azerbaijan continues strengthening its military capabilities. However, there are growing signs that Armenia’s primary tool for revenge could be terrorism.
Terrorism has historically been used as a “substitute for war,” especially when open warfare was lost with no hope of recovery. The Palestinian case is a classic example, and it is well known that many Armenian terrorists from the 1970s trained in Palestinian militant camps. Today, Armenia has suffered a definitive military defeat, yet its tradition of terrorism dates back to the 19th century.
Armenia has essentially become a terrorist stronghold.
Even in the late 1980s, while the Soviet Union still existed, many known terrorists moved to Armenia—individuals who had already committed violent acts in Europe and even served lengthy prison sentences.
One prominent example is Monte Melkonian, a notorious terrorist eliminated in 1993. However, according to some reports, professional militants had already begun moving to Armenia by 1987, even before the open separatist insurgency in Karabakh.
An article on the French international radio station RFI highlights a case involving Gilbert Minassian, a militant of the ASALA terrorist group.
On August 2, 1984, he was arrested for an armed attack on a postal truck, with the stolen funds intended for “the Armenian cause,” i.e., ASALA terrorism. He was later released due to a fabricated alibi orchestrated by Monte Melkonian. But by 1987, when his alibi collapsed and he faced life imprisonment, he fled to Armenia via Lebanon.
During the First Karabakh War, he became known as “Colonel Levon Minassian” and later boasted about commanding absolute obedience from others. Though he returned to France, many similar figures remain in Armenia, raising serious concerns.
Armenia still harbors terrorist organizations such as:
- “Yerkrapah”
- VOMA
- Other paramilitary units
VOMA, in particular, actively promotes Monte Melkonian’s ideology, posting his image and quotes on social media, including:
“The war in Artsakh will continue until we win. It can only end with our victory—there is no other option.”
This terrorist hub is located in a highly sensitive region, near critical transportation routes. Armenia’s political elite also appears willing to serve as a proxy for foreign interests, adding further instability.
The Yerevan government must be reminded of real-world consequences.
After its defeat in the 44-day war, Armenia already attempted to wage a terrorist campaign against Azerbaijan, including:
- “Zinvors” militants hiding in the forests of Khojavend
- Armenian saboteurs planting mines on roads in liberated Azerbaijani regions
Azerbaijan responded swiftly with localized counterterrorism operations on September 19–20, 2023.
If Armenia now attempts to launch terrorist attacks from its own territory, Baku will respond accordingly.
There are numerous international precedents for cross-border counterterrorism raids, including:
- U.S. and allied operations in Afghanistan
- Turkey’s military campaigns in Syria and Iraq
Armenia’s political elite should think twice before resorting to terrorism.
The lessons of the past are clear: if Yerevan continues down this path, it will face severe consequences.
Nurani
Translated from minval.az
