Attack on High-Voltage Power Lines from Armenia to Iran, Says Sanosyan

Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Armenia visited the Gegharkunik province today, where they were presented with the consequences of the targeting of peaceful settlements by Azerbaijan's armed forces. The diplomatic representatives were welcomed by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan and Gegharkunik Governor Karen Sargsyan. They visited the community of Kut and then in Vardenis, Gnel Sanosyan and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Arakel Martikyan, presented the situation.

In his remarks, Gnel Sanosyan specifically noted that they had visited two settlements, while Gegharkunik has 12 settlements facing similar situations. “The enemy has targeted our civilian population and infrastructure, as evidenced by the number of casualties and injuries among civilians – 4 dead and 6 injured. Numerous infrastructure facilities have been affected – schools, kindergartens, administrative buildings, homes, workshops, electric transmission lines, bridges, and gas pipelines, and this is not limited to 1-2 places, but widespread. The Kechut reservoir has also been shelled,” said Sanosyan.

He particularly emphasized that the high-voltage power lines going from Armenia to Iran had been targeted. “You know that Armenia exports a significant amount of electricity to Iran. It may seem that the shelling of the transmission line was accidental. However, when our specialists were not allowed to approach and restore for 12 hours and were fired upon every time they tried, this is proof of intentionality. We had to reduce the capacities of the nuclear power plant and other power plants due to this excess situation and cut the output in half. Our entire energy system was deliberately disrupted,” he noted.