The issue became hotter following the January 11 summit in Moscow between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, when the Armenian side walked away having failed to secure the prisoners’ return.
The handover of territory has brought Azerbaijani forces into close contact with several Armenian towns and a critical road, leading some locals to blame the central government for failing to protect them.
The messaging from Moscow has been pro-Armenia but critical of its government. And some Armenians are questioning their leaders’ flirtation, as mild as it’s been, with the West.
While Armenians have been disappointed by the lack of a strong international response to the war with Azerbaijan, the isolation also has encouraged a sense of unity and solidarity.
The move comes as tensions with Azerbaijan continue to mount. But some in Armenia have objected to what they see as a further militarization of society.
On coming to power, the prime minister promised a revolutionary reformation of the country’s judicial system. The reality is turning out to be more modest.
Armenia is taking a faster route to in-person classes than its Caucasus neighbors, but it is adopting a number of precautions to make sure that schools don’t spread the virus.
