RUSSIA IS REGAINING KARABAKH

Lragir.am
13 may 06

Over the past week the experts of the Russia-based Strategic Culture
Foundation headed by the director of this organization Vladimir
Maximenko were in Karabakh. They visited villages, military units, met
with the government, ordinary people. At Stepanakert Press Club they
met with news reporters. Alarge amount of data on Karabakh can be
found on the Internet, but they are not always true. Most people, even
Armenians, tend to think that the war is going on in Karabakh, and
only several dozens of soldiers live here. Whereas, the Russian
experts say the situation is quite different.

In an interview with us Expert Alexander Krilov, Ph.D., said he
visited many post-Soviet countries, and compared with them life in
Karabakh is much better. `On May 9 we went to the central square of
Stepanakert and were astonished. We saw well-dressed young people,
cheerful but calm. There are no drunkards, drug addicts. This is
something unusual for us,’ said Alexander Krilov.

For the attitude of Russia towards Karabakh, the Russian expert said
presently only tendencies can be considered. `The official standpoint
is the same: resolution in the framework of territorial integrity. At
the same time, progress is reported on a non-governmental level. Last
year the Caucasian Institute of Russian Democracy became engaged in
Karabakh. As far as I know, they aided considerably the Russian
community, funded educational and cultural programs. We learned here
that the Russian Orthodox Church is going to build a church in
Stepanakert. Thus, though on a level of humanitarian organizations,
Russia’s returning to Karabakh,’ said A. Krilov.