The Adversary Does What It Wants: Movses Hakobyan on the Border Situation

In an interview with Pastinfo, former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Major General Movses Hakobyan, discussed the current situation along Armenia's southern borders.

- Mr. Hakobyan, especially in recent times, there seems to be total lawlessness in Syunik and along the southern borders of Armenia. The enemy appears to have already settled in Tegh village.

- The adversary does what it wants.

- Why is this happening? What is this indifference and lawlessness?

- The issue lies in the absence of resistance.

- Where is the Ministry of Defense of Armenia?

- The ministry is where its administrative building is located.

- Where are the authorities responsible for the borders and security of the Republic of Armenia, who should be in that building?

- They should know their place and responsibilities; I am not aware of them.

- What do you think is the reason for this total indifference?

- I cannot pinpoint the reasons. Perhaps it's ignorance, perhaps negligence, or something else.

- What else?

- Deliberate inaction.

- Sources close to the Ministry of Defense confirm that Minister Papikyan has internally prohibited the use of the term Republic of Artsakh. How can this be interpreted? Is there any comment?

- Only if for him the Republic of Artsakh does not exist.

- Could this situation lead to the provision of a so-called corridor to the enemy through soft power, without military actions?

- The so-called corridor does not exist. There is a section of road that the Azerbaijani side can use unhindered. Which territories this road will pass through is determined unilaterally by Azerbaijan.

- What will the local people, who have found themselves at the enemy's dangerous target, do?

- The people need a leader to guide them.

- It seems there is someone, named Nikol.

- To me, he is not a leader. He is a prime minister elected by a portion of our citizens.

- He is a prime minister, but not a leader?

- Not to me.

- Understood... Mr. Hakobyan, can you tell us where we should expect military clashes in the coming weeks if they occur?

- Military clashes will certainly occur in the coming weeks, particularly in the country’s most vulnerable areas where the adversary has made advancements. Since September of last year, the Azerbaijani side, through its president, openly announced that it has created a foothold in the southern part, seizing several strategically important heights for the purpose of further military developments.

- According to the data from last September, the Azerbaijani side took control of several military strategic heights in the town of Jermuk. So, should we expect the first blow from Jermuk?

- The most vulnerable areas are Jermuk, Vardenis, and Sisian.