An accidental figure: Samvel Shahramanyan

Vahe H. Apelian

 

Samvel Shahramanyan’s name will go down in our history as the last president of the Republic of Artsakh although he was not popularly elected. The members of the Artsakh National Assembly voted him as the president having accepted, what they should not have, the resignation of the popularly elected president Arayik Harutyunyan. 

His election came about in the midst crisis Artsakh Armenians were facing due to the Azeri’s relentless blockade of the Nagorno-Karabagh Oblast/Artsakh during the preceding nine months. Some vocal pundits in the Diaspora, driven by their opposition to the Nikol Pachinyan government not only welcomed the change in the power structure of Artsakh, but also hoped that it would trickle down to Armenia and bring about change of governance there. The snowball should not melt, but should roll down to hill and roll over the power structure in Armenia, a pundit wrote in Hairenik weekly.

There were also many who regarded the sudden change of governance ominous. I was among them.

But my concerns dissipated after hearing Samvel Shahramyan’s inaugural speech, which I translated and posted in my blog headlining it: "From Arayik to Samvel: What changed?". In his inaugural speech, Samvel Shahramanyan came across sticking to his gun about the basic issues for a just resolution of the Artsakh conflict, namely  the opening the Lachin corridor,  the right for self-determination, resolving the status of Artsakh claiming that the 44 days Artsakh war had not resolved the status of Artsakh and stated: “Stepanakert should negotiate with Baku. Moreover, in this matter, both the Russian Federation and the collective West are ready to provide a platform and act as a mediator", which Azerbaijan is categorically against.

Hardly ten days passed from his presidential inaugural speech, hell broke loose over Artsakh and Samvel Shahramanyan went into history having signed the lock, stock and barrel capitulation of Artsakh.

Not only that, the Russian forces flew him and several of his “lieutenants” to their safety in Armenia, while  the rest of residents of Artsakh vacated their historic land they had inhabited  throughout recorded history through the only passage way made available for them by the Azeris, the Lachin corridor. The Azeris checked and recorded each and every person fleeing Artsakh, but also abducted those the Azeris  intended to.

Not even that, Samvel Shahramanyan left the fate of the elected officials in limbo.  Apparently, the capitulation he signed gave no special considerations for the Artsakh officials, the people of Artsakh had elected - save himself and his "lieutenant", but let the elected officials to the whims of the Azeris. It is no wonder the Azeris abducted and took as prisoners in Baku, the  former presidents of Artsakh residing in their homeland: Arkady Ghukasyan,  Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, and acting president Tavit Ishkhanyan; along with a few of other officials: Davit Babayan - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Davit Manukyan –  deputy commander of the Artsakh Armed Forces, general Levon Mnatsakanyan – commander of the Defense Forces, Ruben Vardanyan – State Minister of Artsakh Republic.

The Republic of Artsakh technically exists as I blog and thus, Savmel Shahramany continues to be the President of Artsakh. He agreed for the Republic of Artsakh to be dissolved by January 1, 2024. That may be why  the Republic of Artsakh still maintains a tv station in Armenia where Samvel Shahramanyan preferred to sit for an interview.

I watched the interview. I have not come across any public figure of such stature who is so detached from the heart-wrenching state he officiated as Samvel Shahramanyan. He came across totally nonchalant, both in body posture, facial expression and verbiage. He seemed to be completely detached from the catastrophe that befell on the people he represented. You may watch his recorded interview. 

Samvel Shahramanyan is indeed an accidental figure especially for the times history had confined him. He seems to be oblivious of the responsibility he willingly accepted to carry as president of Artsakh and remains oblivious of the consequences of his short tenure.

Prior to his election, on May 2020, Presisent Arayik Harutyunyan had appointed Shahramanyan as Minister of Military Patriotic Upbringing, Youth, Sports and Tourism. I do not know what the ministry entailed but it does not seem to have a power ministry. 

In his inaugural speech, he hinted nothing about the impending Azeri threat. He did not forewarn the National Assembly of possible Azeri onslaught or blitzkrieg. Nothing he said in his inaugural speech hinted that Azeris might attack Artsakh soon and the leadership of Artsakh needed to prepare the hearts and minds of the people.. I do not believe that he was deliberately withholding information or misrepresenting the grave situation because of an ulterior motive. He simply is not a leader of such forth sightedness and caliper. (http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/09/from-arayik-to-savel-what-changed.html)

Azeris seized the moment and attacked. They had an accidental leader in Artsakh who lacked understanding of the responsibility of the post he had accepted to carry on, nor the will to confront adversity.  Azeris had a leader in Artsakh who did not have what it takes to galvanize the people, and ended up creating panic. He was not the man to mobilize, inspire and lead Artaskh's standing army. 

His election was accidental and it indeed was the trigger for Azeri attack. It represented the opportune time to attack and attack they did. The rest is another tragic chapter of our history.