Defense Ministry Denies Its Own Deputy Minister: Arman Sarkisyan Deceived Journalists and the Public

It can be said that Syunik Province has become a real headache for the current authorities, as the enemy’s reckless actions at the province’s borders continuously force Nikol Pashinyan's government to find some clarification and somehow explain to the public what is happening. This was reported by hetq.am.

This time, the talk is about the enemy’s advance towards the village of Nerk'in Hand in Kapan. The public first learned that Azerbaijanis had advanced several hundred meters into Armenia's sovereign territory and set up positions/tents from the inhabitants of Nerk'in Hand, while before that local, regional, and Armenian authorities had remained completely silent.

The residents of Hand unanimously assert that the enemy advanced towards their village territory in February-March of this year. The Ministry of Defense of Armenia hastened to “categorically deny” this information on March 15, adding that there are several positions in that area, which were not equipped and unsuitable for use during winter. However, after the weather changed, the Azerbaijanis returned to those positions. “There can be no talk of any advance,” the Ministry of Defense insisted.

It was unclear where the tents were located—inside Armenia's sovereign territory or outside it. Secondly, when had the enemy appeared there? Nonetheless, the failure to reveal answers to these questions did not save the face of the Ministry of Defense, as former and current ombudsmen claimed that enemy soldiers had appeared near vital pastures, arable lands, and orchards for the Hand residents this year, posing a threat to people's safety.

In response to the Defense Ministry's “denial,” former Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan stated, “The statement by the Ministry of Defense regarding Nerk'in Hand today does not correspond to reality. It is a statement that concedes the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia to Azerbaijan and puts the population in danger.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Defense Arman Sarkisyan claimed in a conversation with reporters on March 15, “There is no problem related to any advance,