“With 20 January events, the Soviet Union has lost Azerbaijan forever. The popular fronts were very powerful in that time. Georgia and Baltic States also faced same processes”, Russian well-known writer and publicist, editor-in-chief of newspaper `Zavtra`, the chairman of Izborskiy club Alexander Prokhanov told.
Prokhanov noted that Gorbachev has sent Yevgeny Primakov to Baku for negotiations: “Primakov had visited Baku to conducts negotiations with popular front. Though Primakov had to dissuade the popular front, he could not achieve it. The negotiations were unsuccessful. Because Primakov had not so authority. After this, Gorbachev gave order to bring troops into Baku. Of course, the order was verbal. Just the experience on giving order verbally was an idea of Gorbachev. He had deliberately given verbal order to bring troops into Baku to dodge the responsibility in the future. Therefore, Gorbachev denied that order. He said that as if the military leadership gave this order. This was Gorbachev’s crafty and cunning tactics. He intended to dodge the responsibility with this tactics”.
Prokhanov also noted that Moscow’s press does not release correct information related to 20 January events: “The media, which was under the control of Gorbachev, reported that Armenian massacre occurred in Baku. Azerbaijanis’ living in Moscow held rally in that time. They tried to break information isolation. They wanted Soviet authority to be warned about happenings in Baku”.
Touching upon Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Prokhanov said: Not Sumgayit events, but deportation of Azerbaijanis from Gafan became first impulse for outbreak of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Though both Azerbaijan and Armenia are native for me, I must say true. Deportation of Azerbaijanis from Gafan became first impulse for outbreak of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In my view, the leadership of the Soviet Union, especially Gorbachev could prevent this conflict. Gorbachev should immediately take measures to prevent deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia. However, it was not prevented deliberately, Armenians were supported”.
Prokhanov thinks that guilty for beginning of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict was central government: “Gorbachoev should prevent the events in Gafan. Instead of preventing A
Russian well-known writer and publicist: "Gorbachev had deliberately given verbal order to bring troops into Baku to dodge the responsibility in the future"
20 January 2015
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"Not Sumgayit events, but deportation of Azerbaijanis from Gafan became first impulse for outbreak of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict"
