Category: 2022

The National Security Service (NSS) of the Republic of Armenia (RA) has already put into circulation the document prepared on the basis of the instructions by PM Nikol Pashinyan, and which plans to open three checkpoints with Azerbaijan for the movement of vehicles. TV journalist, expert on regional matters Nairi Hokhikyan wrote about this on Facebook and, also, publicized a map attached to this post.

"As we learn from the announcement of the NSS, there will be checkpoints in Sotk-Karvachar (near Vardenis) of Gegharkunik Province, Karahunj (near Goris) of Syunik Province, and Yeraskh of Ararat Province.

Since Azerbaijan regularly insists on the need for a land connection with Nakhichevan, we realize that the most important checkpoint for it is in Yeraskh, near which, on the hill, there are Azerbaijani strongholds for a long time already.

The other two checkpoints, Sotk and Karahunj, will connect the north and south of Azerbaijan with the Sadarak settlement of Nakhichevan.

Since the safety of the Azerbaijanis must be specially ensured, I assume that their convoys will be accompanied by military personnel—probably Russians, or even Armenian policemen. The sad experience of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh))] shows that during the hours when Azerbaijani convoys pass through Armenian roads, they are closed for Armenians.

It turns out that Azerbaijani vehicles will travel more than 350km in the territory of Armenia in a convoy and armed escort—blocking local and international roads, prohibiting the free movement of RA residents.

This is the reality that awaits us if Nikol Pashinyan's arrangement and instruction is fulfilled," Hokhikyan added, in particular.

I consistently inform my international colleagues, ambassadors accredited to Armenia about the continuous appearances of the criminal behavior by Azerbaijan. Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National Assembly of Armenia, non-partisan Taguhi Tovmasyan, wrote this on Facebook on Monday morning.

“With a regular letter I drew the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Sergey Kopirkin’s attention to the fact that Azerbaijan attacked Artsakh on August 1 trying to cross the contact line afterwards using mortars, grenade launchers and shock UAVs Since Azerbaijan again broke the Trilateral Statement from November 10, 2020 and in the result victims and casualties were registered, I requested my Russian colleague to condemn such a criminal behavior by Azerbaijan, take steps towards the stabilization of the situation in the region.

I received a letter from the Embassy of Russia in Armenia according to which the situation in the area of responsibility of Russian peacekeeping contingent and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is an important issue for Russian foreign policy. “We would like to draw your attention to the Statement by the MFA of Russia on August 4 with regard to the escalation of the situation on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The Ministry called the two sides to show restraint, hold the ceasefire regime and confirmed the necessity for the regulation in accordance with the Statements by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 10, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021. (…) Russian peacekeepers make all possible efforts to stabilize the situation “on the ground”. The important role of Russian peacekeeping contingent was stressed in Baku and Yerevan many times. They are sure that they totally deserve the trust. We are ready to further show any necessary support to the normalization of the ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

With another letter I drew my Russian colleagues’ attention to the process of handing over the settlements Berdzor, Aghavno and Nerkin Sus to Azerbaijan. There are only a few days left for the Armenian settlements to be handed over to Azerbaijan. And as closer we get such a shameful reality imposed on the Armenians worldwide by Nikol Pashinyan’s Government, the concept of the future becomes more and more indeterminate. I informed Mr. Kopirkin with my letter about the current difficulties as well as the concerns of my deputy colleagues of Artsakh that the human, technical and transportation means are not sufficient to carry out the evacuation process in time. I asked to assist in setting up an extended deadline for the evacuation of the communities in question.

With the reply letter the Embassy of Russia in Armenia informs that the situation around the Lachin corridor should be tackled based on Paragraph 6 of the Trilateral Statement. It is worth mentioning that according to the mentioned by the Embassy of Russia in Armenia Paragraph 6, The Parties have agreed that a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined within the next three years, providing communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, with the subsequent redeployment of Russian peacekeeping troops to protect this route. Considering also the statement made by the Advisor-Envoy of the Russian Embassy in Yerevan, Mr. Maksim Seleznyov recently, that “Russian peacekeepers will not move an inch from the existing Lachin corridor until the new road is exploited”, one can assume that not everything is clear on this matter. By the way there is still more than a year left before the expiration of the specified three-year period.

The Embassy of Russia adds that discussions with interested sides are held regarding the matters raised by their letter aimed at reaching agreement satisfying everyone to realize the Trilateral Statement. “For this purpose we are in constant dialogue with Armenian and Azerbaijani sides on the highest, as well as the levels of Russian Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies. Phone talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan were held on August 2 and 8 S.V Lavrov and S.K. Shoigu had contacts with Armenian and Azerbaijani colleagues. Taking into account the sensitivity of the problematics, discussion details were not disclosed, however such conversations appear to be an important and effective tool for the regulation,” the Armenian MP added.

Radia Hovsepyan, 86, has set on fire the house he had built himself in Aghavno village of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

In a video shared on social media, this elderly man can be seen pouring—with trembling hands—gasoline on the walls of this house and saying that even though it is his time to die, he will not let Azerbaijanis enter his house.

Artsakh Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Hayk Khanumyan had informed the Armenian residents of Aghavno village and Berdzor town that they had to leave their homes by August 25 as these settlements will be handed over to Azerbaijan. The majority of the local population has already left these communities.

A group of people was staging a protest Monday in front of the main building of the government of Armenia—and in support of Berdzor, Aghavno, and Sus settlements of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

They demanded from people and the authorities not to allow the aforesaid Armenian communities to be handed over to Azerbaijan.

One of these demonstrators told reporters that the Armenian people have been persuaded into thinking that it is not possible to bring back what was lost. But according to her, it can be brought back only through consolidation and being a claimant.

Another protester said that the important thing is to raise the awareness level of the Armenian people and to be united.

On August 5, Artsakh Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Hayk Khanumyan had informed the Armenian residents of Aghavno village and Berdzor town that they had to leave their homes by August 25 as these settlements will be handed over to Azerbaijan. Since August 18, electricity, telephone, internet, natural gas, and later—water—have been cut off in those settlements. The majority of the local population has already left these communities.

Artsakh authorities diligently devastated another village, for which Azerbaijan should "reward" them. A resident of Aghavno village Haykaram Mnatsakanyan wrote on a Facebook post. "Ilham Aliyev will thank, I hope, also award Hayk Khanumyan and all those who led this work with the Heydar Aliyev Gold Medal," he says. According to the resident, although Aghavno is deprived of electricity and all means of communication, they are still there. "We need you all to live in Aghavno, we do not lose hope, although they go step by step to their goal to please Aliyev; the village was not devastated by the Russian or Armenian governments, this village was devastated by the Artsakh government," says Haykaram Mnatsakanyan.

On August 5, Artsakh Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Hayk Khanumyan informed Aghavno and Berdzor residents that they must leave their homes before August 25. On August 18, electricity, telephone, internet, gas and later water supply was cut off in these settlements. Most of the population has already left Berdzor and Aghavno.

The basements of schools and kindergartens should be cleaned of unnecessary and obsolete property, Hrachya Sargsyan, the mayor of the Armenian capital, said during a working meeting at Yerevan City Hall today.

According to the mayor, basements must be re-equipped into bomb shelters. The progress report, however, did not satisfy Sargsyan. In the mayor's opinion, the responsible bodies didn't follow up on the assigned task.

"You didn't follow up on anything, and that's why nothing was done. This problem came to light back during the war. Back then we were looking for bomb shelters and hiding places. In the end, it turned out that the property from the 1970s, which turned out to be unusable, had never been written off. For some reason they decided to put this property in basements," complained Sargsyan and called for the problem to be solved as soon as possible.

At 10:25pm on Sunday, a person called the Police of Armenia, and stated that if his acquaintance is not released by the Ashtarak city police in ten minutes, he will blow up the Ashtarak police building and harm this police department's management, the police informed.

Within minutes, the Ashtarak police determined the identity and location of this caller.

This 42-year-old man was found on an Ashtarak street and detained 25 minutes after the aforesaid call.

Criminal proceedings have been launched.

This man was taken to the Ashtarak police detention facility.

An investigation is underway.

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia informs that the information circulating in the media and social networks that in case of possible transit by motor vehicles through the territory of Armenia from the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and backwards the local and international roads of Armenia will be blocked during the transit, which will hinder the free movement of Armenian residents, is not true.

"We would like to inform you that the draft government decree "On Amending the RA Government Decree № 703 of May 12, 2011", put into circulation by the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, provides for opening 3 new checkpoints, which will provide the opportunity to transit from the Republic of Azerbaijan by road to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Possible transit routes and procedures are being developed at present which do not envisage closure of local and/or international (interstate) roads and/or other restrictions for the movement of the Armenian population, as well as foreigners and their vehicles," the statement says.