Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh dispute about status of the Russian language

Some of Nagorno-Karabakh residents interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have treated the initiative of local MPs to recognize Russian as the official language along with Armenian as untimely. Others, on the other hand, believe that the status of the Russian language had to be reconsidered long ago.

"In case of additions to the law on the language, publications in the Armenian and Russian languages will be encouraged – the press and scientific literature," said Aram Arutyunyan, the chairman of the commission on sciences, education, culture, youth and sports of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Metaxe Akopyan, an MP from the "Justice" faction, has noted that no one is going to equate the rights of the Armenian and Russian languages.

Gagik Bagunts, a deputy speaker of the parliament from the "United Motherland" faction, has noted that "Russian will become the second official language, not the state one." "The main reason for such changes is the long-term deployment of Russian peacemakers in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)," he said.

David Babayan, the Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Minister, wrote on the Facebook that the adoption of the amendments to the law on the language will strengthen ties with the Armenian Diaspora in Russia.

Tatevik Agadjanyan, a public figure, believes that "the new status of the Russian language is warmly welcomed mainly by those who easily jump from one political team into another, and for whom there are no such notions as adherence to principles, independence and national thinking."

Nelson Simonyan has noted that "all the Artsakh residents know Russian, as they have many relatives in Russia, and 90% of TV channels are broadcast in Russian."