Chief of General Staff Proposed Use of Iskander on Third Day of War; Pashinyan Categorically Prohibited It - Gabrielyanov

Aram Gabrielyanov, a media mogul based in Russia, has made a remarkable revelation, stating that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not allow the use of Iskander missiles against strategic targets in Azerbaijan.

“Since we are talking about Iskanders, I will share my insight,” he wrote on his Telegram channel, mentioning that about a month ago he had a lengthy and serious conversation with Armenia's Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan in Moscow. “I cannot reveal everything, but since Nikol raised the topic of this exceptional weapon, I will quote exactly what Onik Gasparyan said. The rest you can decide for yourselves,” he noted.

According to Gabrielyanov, Gasparyan told him, “On the third day of the war, I, as the Chief of General Staff, decided to use Iskander against two strategic targets—the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and another object. Pashinyan categorically prohibited it, although the Russians had indicated that it was your war and your business, do whatever you want.”

“Three days prior to the fall of Shushi, I asked Pashinyan for permission to strike with Iskander at the Azerbaijani forces concentrated just below Shushi. Pashinyan categorically refused, saying that the international community would tear us apart if we simultaneously killed several thousand enemy soldiers,” he continued. “The only time I was allowed to use Iskander was already directed towards Shushi. I used it. We took advantage and were able to push a few tanks into the city. Two days later, I was ordered to leave Shushi and retreat.”