Four Military Positions of the Armenian Armed Forces Were Encircled, National Security Council Statement

On November 14, 2023, around 1:00 PM, units of the Azerbaijani armed forces, supported by armored vehicles, invaded the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia in one of the eastern sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. This was announced by the National Security Council of Armenia.

The statement also noted: "As a result of the actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, four military positions of the Armenian Armed Forces found themselves encircled. The Azerbaijani military equipment and troops that invaded the territory of the Republic of Armenia have withdrawn from the territory following negotiations, and the Armenian Armed Forces units have been relocated from the mentioned four military positions. However, Azerbaijani servicemen who invaded the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia back in May continue to remain in that area."

Reports suggesting that there was an order issued by the higher military command or political authorities of the Republic of Armenia not to resist are false. The National Security Council of the Republic of Armenia has instructed the relevant authorities to conduct a proper investigation into the incident.

The National Security Council draws the attention of the Russian Federation, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the international community to the ongoing aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, emphasizing that these actions are directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, as well as regional security and stability. Furthermore, they contradict the provisions of the trilateral statement made on November 9, 2020.

The National Security Council expresses the determination of the authorities and the people to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of the homeland.

Referring to the sections of the Goris-Kapan and Kapan-Jakaten highways under Azerbaijani control, it is necessary to emphasize that, according to legally binding documents dating back to Soviet times concerning the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, these areas are not located within the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The government of the Republic of Armenia has taken measures to create a new network of alternative routes in the Syunik region, and this work will be completed shortly.

It should be stressed that no settlement in the Republic of Armenia is deprived of vital supply routes.

The National Security Council continues to emphasize the need for a peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border situation, which involves a mirror withdrawal of troops from the de jure established border between Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan and the commencement of demarcation and delimitation of borders under international auspices. We also call on the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to intensify efforts toward the peaceful and comprehensive resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.