12:30,

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. A senior lawmaker has said that Russia played some role in neutralizing the April 11 Azeri aggression but that it was repelled first of all as a result of the Armenian military’s actions.

On April 12, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Russian troops and Border Guards in Armenia took measures to de-escalate the situation on April 11 near the village of Tegh where an Azerbaijani attack left four Armenian troops dead and six wounded.

“I don’t question Maria Zakharova’s words, that Russia participated in some format, but, nevertheless, it is the Armenian military that fought. If we hadn’t fought, if not for the ultimate sacrifice, the issue wouldn’t have been solved no matter how many phone calls the Russian foreign ministry was to make. The objective was solved first of all as a result of the actions of our military,” MP Andranik Kocharyan (Civil Contract), the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs said at a press briefing.

Meanwhile, another Civil Contract MP, Artur Hovhannisyan, who serves as Secretary of the ruling party’s parliamentary faction, commented on Zakharova’s statement that Russia has asked Armenia to explain its planned participation in NATO drills. Hovhannisyan said that Armenia is moving forward with its national interests and is doing everything for increasing the combat readiness of its military.

“Armenia continues warm, friendly and strategic relations with its strategic ally, and continues warm relations also with partners of other countries and is doing everything for the benefit of the development and increase of combat readiness of the Armenian military,” he said.