Kapan's Pelya Mountain Under Azerbaijani Control for Two Days: Gevorg Parsyan

Kapan's Pelya Mountain has been handed over to Azerbaijan. For two days, the strategically important peak in Kapan has been under Azerbaijani control. This information was shared with 'Factinfo' by the Kapan community leader Gevorg Parsyan.

'I have been informed that the area we refer to as Pelya Mountain is completely under Azerbaijani control. As of yesterday, the mountain has come under their control,' Parsyan stated.

The Azerbaijani forces have also closed off the adjacent road, which served not only the military personnel but also local villagers. 'The road served as a transit route for us and for villagers to gather firewood; now the Azerbaijanis have closed it and it is under their control,' he added.

Just two days ago, part of the mountain was under the control of Armenian soldiers, while another part was under Azerbaijani forces. Agreements regarding the transfer of the peak to Azerbaijan were reached back in the winter of 2021, but no official announcements were made about it.

Surveys were conducted, and an electronic map showed that Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers were present in two separate sections of the mountain. 'Earlier, in January-February, there was an agreement. Surveys were being conducted using GPS, resulting in portions that were Armenian and others that appeared Azerbaijani. The Armenian portions were used as a transit route and for villagers to access the forest. Now that section, for reasons unknown, has come completely under their control,' Parsyan said.

Parsayan emphasized that Pelya Mountain is a strategically significant peak. The control of the mountain by Azerbaijan poses certain risks to the nearby villages, primarily for the village of Agarak. At the same time, it creates serious issues for the residents of Kapan with the Azerbaijani police checkpoint established on the Goris-Kapan road. Following recent events on the M2 highway, traffic has significantly decreased, and residents are now using the Kapan-Tatev route. Although a new bypass road is expected to be ready, Parsyan believes the main highway should be used at all costs.

'The M2 road must be utilized at all costs, as it runs along the border. Not using the road indirectly means handing it over to Azerbaijan. We must utilize it. If there are problematic sections, bypass routes should be constructed,' Parsyan concluded.