Separatist leader replaced for sake of power change in Armenia Former separatist commander says

Samvel Babayan, the former "secretary of the security council" of the separatists in Azerbaijan’s Garabagh region, has said that separatist junta leader Araik Harutyunyan was replaced for the sake of power change in Armenia.

Babayan made the remarks while commenting on the recent resignation of separatist leader Araik Harutyunyan on air of Azatutyun radio station, Caliber.Az reports.

"First of all, I do not believe that Araik Harutyunyan left under pressure. Secondly, it was not a surprise, because I spoke about it 10 days ago in my interviews, that Harutyunyan had to leave, he has no other choice, as no force supports him. He had to leave, he had no other choice," Babayan said.

When asked if Harutyunyan was not pressured by Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan, Babayan said that Araik Harutyunyan agreed with them and made such a decision, but he was not forced.

"I recently made a statement that three people made basement agreements in Karabakh. Harutyunyan was not forced, he is one of them, he was given a role, he could not play to the end, he was changed, a new player was brought in," Babayan said.

According to him, certain forces in Yerevan are now creating a group in Karabakh that will fight for a change of government in Armenia.