Pashinyan Visits Kut to Prevent Possible Protests by Families of Captured Soldiers

On May 27, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the village of Kut in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. On the same day, it became clear that six soldiers of the Armed Forces of Armenia had been surrounded and captured by Azerbaijani armed forces in a border area.

According to information from "Factinfo," Pashinyan rushed to the village not to familiarize himself with the situation on the ground and find solutions, or to bolster the spirits of the residents, but rather to meet with the relatives of the captured soldiers. Pashinyan attempted to prevent potential protests from these relatives, assuring them that reservists would return in a short period. He stated that there should be no uproar, as publicizing the issue could hinder the process.

Despite these promises, four days have passed, and there has been no clear communication regarding measures for the return of the captured soldiers. Pashinyan also urged the families of the servicemen not to reach out to representatives of the mass media.

The parents are now faced with a dilemma as visible steps are not being taken for the return of their captured children, and they do not know whom to complain to or whether they should complain at all.

No official information was released regarding the meeting with the relatives of the captured reservists; instead, a video was circulated suggesting that Pashinyan was conversing with residents and calling for unity. However, in the video, Pashinyan could also be heard mentioning that he would speak briefly with the relatives after the consultation.

It is important to note that on the morning of May 27, in the border area of the Gegharkunik Province of the Republic of Armenia, six soldiers of the Armenian Armed Forces were surrounded and captured by Azerbaijani armed forces while carrying out engineering work within the protection zone of a military unit. Subsequently, the names of the contracted servicemen were released: A. N. Abgaryan, I. A. Sargsyan, V. V. Sargsyan, B. S. Ohanian, A. G. Budoyan, and V. O. Rafaelian.