Russian Border Guards Leave, Azerbaijan Blocks Road: Gevorg Paryan on Pela Mountain

There were parts that were used by both us and the Azerbaijanis, but according to recent developments, they have completely come under their control and those sections are no longer used by us. This was stated by Kapan community leader Gevorg Paryan in an interview with NEWS.am, referring to the statement of Armenia bloc MP Anna Grigoryan that Pela Mountain has completely come under Azerbaijan’s control.

He emphasized that this is a very serious strategic height, where one of the Armenian military units was once stationed. “The military unit has long been gone, since December 18, 2020. When on December 18, we relinquished all security zones at the instruction of the Ministry of Defense, the Azerbaijani side approached Pela Mountain as well. Quite a few negotiations took place regarding this mountain; several times they tried to completely take control of Pela Mountain, which failed. It failed also due to our active involvement, due to the active involvement of Armenian border guards. As a result, it was decided in January-February that the Azerbaijanis would be stationed in that area, while our Armenian border guards are stationed nearby, as well as Russian border guards immediately adjacent, and the adjacent road was used by both us and them.

However, two days ago, the Russian border guards left, and the road was blocked by the Azerbaijanis with a barricade. Now we have no access there at all. Therefore, it is said that this strategically important area has completely passed under their control,” Paryan stated.

When asked what explanation the Ministry of Defense provided regarding this situation, the Kapan community leader responded, “I do not have any explanation from them. During the war of the 1990s, our communities were directly hit from that height. This height is closer to the villages of Agarak, Khadran, Syunik, Ditsmayr, and also the city of Kapan.” He added that he has been informed that there should be some negotiations still to come. “Let's wait and see.”