We didn’t have the opportunity to stop the war with few territorial losses. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during today’s question-and-answer session with government officials in parliament, responding to deputy of the opposition Bright Armenia faction Naira Zohrabyan’s comment that it was possible to stop the war earlier and with fewer losses.

The Prime Minister added that talks about stopping the war earlier and with few territorial losses are mythical. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has also talked about stopping the war earlier and with few losses.

“Armenia took several actions to stop the war as soon as possible. On October 12, an agreement on ceasefire and continuation of negotiations in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group was signed in Moscow, but the terms were violated. We tried to reach a ceasefire agreement three times, but in vain,” Pashinyan emphasized, adding that during the negotiations, there was no discussion on an option according to which refugees from Azerbaijan shouldn’t return to Shushi.

“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that, before its liberation, 90 and more percent of the population of Shushi was Azerbaijani. So, you are telling me that the city of Shushi with a 90 and more percent population of Azerbaijanis was an Armenian city with that status? Then, people tell me I had said that Artsakh is Armenia, period. If you believe that Artsakh is not Armenia and this is your stance, formulate the position and state it officially,” Pashinyan said.

Nevertheless, Pashinyan admitted that he is responsible for the situation that was created. “I still bear responsibility for what is happening today since everything didn’t end on November 9. The easiest thing for me to do was to resign, but that would be irresponsible. My political team and I bear responsibility for all of our actions,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Nevertheless, Pashinyan didn’t miss the opportunity to suggest that the MPs check the legitimacy of the authorities by holding snap parliamentary elections.