The Connection Between Suren Papikyan and Zakir Hasanov Has Not Functioned for Several Months: Ministry of Defense

In November 2021, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan instructed the Ministry of Defense to actively utilize direct communication with Azerbaijan. The establishment of direct communication between the defense ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan was also discussed by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, when he hosted Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan at the end of last year.

Current Defense Minister Suren Papikyan assumed office on November 15, 2021. Accordingly, 168.am sought to clarify with the Ministry of Defense whether a direct connection between Suren Papikyan and Zakir Hasanov had been established during this period, and if so, how many times, and whether it exists today.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, Aram Torosyan, responded to our inquiries, stating: “The established direct communication between the defense ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan has not functioned for several months.”