Azerbaijani Armed Forces Leave 100% from Ishkhanasar: Ministry of Defense Neither Confirms Nor Denies

The acting head of the Sisian community in the Syunik region, Armen Hakobjanyan, is unaware of whether the Azerbaijani troops have withdrawn from the Ishkhanasar area of the community. "At this moment, I do not have such information, but such actions should take place. I have called the commanders to confirm 100 percent," Hakobjanyan said in an interview with 24News.

The acting mayor of Sisian confirmed that there is an agreement with the Azerbaijani side regarding the withdrawal of troops. "That they are leaving is 100 percent; out of 200 people, there are 50-60 left, or the equipment they have lightened, that is true. As for whether the positions have been withdrawn, I do not have that information at the moment, but it should happen," Hakobjanyan added.

He mentioned that there were no positional losses in the Sisian direction during the clashes on November 16. Armen Hakobjanyan did not respond to other questions, stating he was busy.

The administrative head of the Ishkhanasar community, Marat Petrosyan, who previously told several media outlets that the Azerbaijani troops had withdrawn from Armenian territory to the area where the Soviet Azerbaijan border ran, told 24News: "We have a mayor, Hakobjanyan, and a Ministry of Defense; please call them, I do not know," Petrosyan said before hanging up.

In response to an inquiry from Armenpress, the Ministry of Defense neither confirmed nor denied the news, urging that information concerning the border situation, the movements of the armed forces, the positions held, or other activities should be disseminated not based on statements from community leaders but rather on official announcements from the Ministry of Defense.