Shoigu and Harutyunyan Discuss Deployment of Russian Border Guards Jointly with Armenian Armed Forces in Syunik and Gegharkunik

The acting Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan and the Russian Minister of Defense, Army General Sergei Shoigu, have discussed the deployment of Russian border guards jointly with the Armenian Armed Forces in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border areas of Syunik and Gegharkunik. This information was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, which added that a phone conversation between the two ministers took place yesterday.

"The heads of the defense agencies of the two strategic allied countries discussed ways to resolve the situation that has arisen on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border," the statement said.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan emphasized that the Armenian side respects the calls of partner countries and organizations to peacefully resolve the issue. According to Harutyunyan, the Armenian position remains unchanged: representatives of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces must leave the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia without any preconditions.

The conversation also touched on the ongoing mission of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh, Armenian-Russian cooperation in the defense sector, as well as a number of issues related to regional problems.

The situation in the border areas with Azerbaijan escalated especially after the Azerbaijani armed forces attempted to carry out certain actions in the border areas of Syunik and Gegharkunik on the morning of May 12 under the pretext of "border clarification." The Ministry of Defense reported on May 13 that Azerbaijan had conducted yet another provocation in the border areas of Vardenis and Sisian.

Since May 13, negotiations have been ongoing with the Azerbaijanis. On May 20, a brawl occurred between the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh in the vicinity of the village of Khaznavar in Syunik province. Eleven Armenian soldiers have been hospitalized.