It’s Obvious They Are Following Orders, But It’s Unclear What Their Purpose Is: The Fighter Speaks to "Pastinfo"

The Azerbaijani side is attempting to carry out another provocation by closing the Kapan-Goris interstate road section of Karmirakar-Shurnukh. Freedom fighter Efrem Margaryan noted in an interview with "Pastinfo" that the closure of the road is illogical. He is confident that nothing happens without a reason. What the Azerbaijanis have planned is unclear. According to the freedom fighter, the enemy may want to demonstrate its dominance once again or to convey that they can do whatever they please at any time.

“It’s illogical; 50 people are standing on the road. It’s obvious they are following orders, but it’s unclear what purpose this serves in such a tense situation,” he remarked.

The fighter pointed out that the enemy had not taken any drastic actions in the specified area, with incidents only recorded near Ishkhanasar. However, the presence of 50 soldiers blocking the road clearly serves a specific purpose.

“Azerbaijan doesn’t care about what happens to its 50 soldiers. The important thing is that the provocation reaches its destination, but the Armenian side is also trying to communicate through negotiations that they need to open the road; unfortunately, they are not responding, and there’s no response from their command. Therefore, you sense that there is an order they are executing,” he said.

Despite the existence of an alternative route leading from Tatev to Kapan, Margaryan is astonished by the inaction of Russian peacekeepers. According to the freedom fighter, in other areas, such as Aravus, they respond quickly to any incidents.

“State authorities need to address this issue—either through diplomatic means or they need to apply force to push them back. They clearly feel like their own lords and masters, and seem to believe they have been given that privilege. Their audacity knows no bounds. Just as their soldier entered Martakert, swam, and ate bread. There should be an enhanced service,” he emphasized.

The freedom fighter assures that the Azerbaijani side does not respond to negotiations. Margaryan himself has been present at negotiations several times and has noticed that when they find it appropriate to respond, they will do so, but if ordered to remain silent and execute a task, it is impossible to get a response from the enemy.

“Even now, there’s no response, which is why I consider this illogical. We could simply push them back. They are just standing there without using weapons and blocking the road. Since the demarcation hasn’t been established yet, such incidents will continue to occur,” he noted.

Margaryan mentioned that similar incidents may also occur in other regions of Syunik. He considers the silence dangerous and insecure. The enemy is quietly preparing, carrying out engineering work daily, constructing positions.

“The engineering work being carried out by the adversary is becoming noticeable day by day. It’s immense. They are preparing strong positions. Even positions that could be somewhat difficult to neutralize. For a shell, it might be inaccessible—the effectiveness of a shell diminishes depending on where it lands. I do not rule out that a conflict could begin there one day. Our side is showing restraint because we know there is a peaceful population behind us; they are on the heights, and thus the guards are demonstrating calmness, not responding to everything with fire,” the freedom fighter concluded.