Where is the EU Observers' Report on the Recent Escalations? EU Ambassador Clarifies

Reports regarding the clashes and escalations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border have not been submitted by EU civilian observers to either Armenia or Azerbaijan. This was stated by Andrea Victorin, the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, during a press conference.

“Since officers from the Ministry of Defense are also part of the mission, the Armenian side clearly records the events, meaning that this can happen every day, and they record it and report it to Brussels,” Victorin noted.

Addressing the recent incidents in the Sotk area, the EU Ambassador mentioned that observers were not present there. “But they are present along a significant part of the border, and there is also a reorganization conducted on a weekly basis. It is not that they do not wish to be where something is happening, but they cannot be everywhere. They conduct ongoing monitoring of the border and record what they see, but this does not automatically mean they will appear at the point where something happens,” Ambassador Victorin stated.

Responding to a journalist's question on whether EU observers should at least go to the area where the escalation occurred, Ambassador Victorin mentioned that they had been given such an opportunity later, but it is important to remember that the Armenian side is primarily responsible for the security of EU observers.

The ambassador added that there may be situations where observers refuse to go to a specific point, but in this case, they went, assessed the situation, and sent their reports directly to Brussels.

Recall that on May 11, Azerbaijani Armed Forces units opened fire using artillery and mortars at Armenian positions located near Sotk. As a result of this provocation, the Armenian side has four wounded.

On the same day, Azerbaijani Armed Forces used artillery against the Norabak area in Gegharkunik and mortars towards Verin Shorzha.

On May 12, Azerbaijan opened fire towards the village of Kut, using drones towards Sotk. As a result of the enemy's fire, one serviceman was killed and two more were wounded due to the provocations over two days, totaling one death (Narek Norairi Baghdasaryan, born in 2003) and six wounded on the Armenian side.