National Assembly Issues Statement on Crisis in Syunik, Gegharkunik, and Vayots Dzor

The National Assembly unanimously adopted a statement with 86 votes in favor regarding the situation created due to Azerbaijan's actions in recent days.

The statement, titled “On the Crisis Situation Created in the Syunik Region, Gegharkunik Region, and Vayots Dzor Region, the Related Issues and Solutions, Border Protection, and Security Assurance”, notes that on May 12, 2021, Azerbaijani military forces crossed the state border of the Republic of Armenia from the area of Lake Sev in the Syunik region, advancing several kilometers towards the village of Verishen. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia has confirmed that Azerbaijani forces have allegedly conducted certain activities under the pretext of 'border clarification' in one of the border areas of Syunik.

It is clear that these actions by Azerbaijani military forces are unacceptable for the Republic of Armenia and represent a blatant violation of Armenia's sovereign territory, which will not be tolerated by Armenia.

On May 13 of this year, another extraordinary meeting of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia was held, noting that for the second day, there has been an explosive situation around Lake Sev and in the surrounding areas of Syunik. Currently, approximately 250 representatives of the Azerbaijani armed forces continue to be present in Armenian territory in certain areas of the Syunik and Gegharkunik regions.

Considering Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian warmongering policy and the recent blatant threats against the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia by Azerbaijani leadership, including statements containing threats of force and rising anti-Armenian rhetoric at the state policy level, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia strongly condemns Azerbaijan's encroachments on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia and states that the aggressive policy conducted by Azerbaijan violates the fundamental norms of international law, including the principles enshrined in Article 2 of the UN Charter, entitling the Republic of Armenia to respond to Azerbaijan's aggression in accordance with international law and Armenian legislation.

On behalf of the people of the Republic of Armenia, the National Assembly declares that all necessary measures will be taken to stop Azerbaijan's military aggression and protect our state border and people. We call on the international community to condemn Azerbaijan's provocative actions against the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, the threats of the use of force, and the actual use of force.