Azerbaijan's Next Targets are the 'Enclaves' in Armenia: Alexander Lapshin

Bloger and citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin spoke about the rare opportunity created for Azerbaijan to strike at Armenia.

“In light of the Israel-Hamas war, all other wars and conflicts around the world have been pushed to the background. Global media has almost forgotten about Ukraine and has absolutely forgotten about Armenia and Azerbaijan. This was immediately exploited by Russian troops in Ukraine, which launched the most extensive offensive of 2023, striking Ukraine in the Avdiivka region of Donbas and partially breaking through defenses.

But it's not only Russia that has benefited from the war in Gaza; Azerbaijan is also unwilling to miss this rare opportunity to strike Armenia. This time, Aliyev’s goals for the 'liberation of enclaves' primarily target Tigranashen, which is located at the junction of the Yerevan - Sisian main highway, a section connecting Ijevan to Berd, and the third enclave near the village of Voskepar, which is right on the main road connecting Yerevan to Tbilisi.

These very small 'islands' of Azerbaijani territory were annexed to Armenia during the first war of 1992-93. However, Azerbaijan also seized and annexed several Armenian territories, such as the Artsvashen enclave just north of Lake Sevan. This Armenian enclave is equal in size to three Azerbaijani enclaves, but of course, Aliyev has no intention of returning it. Armenia is not particularly striving for it either, which is a significant mistake in Armenian foreign policy. As Azerbaijan uses the enclave issue as a basis for new aggression.

Do you know what will happen if the Azerbaijanis capture the three enclaves mentioned above? Yerevan will be cut off from Syunik, and only one road passing through Selim will remain, which is almost impassable in winter. In addition, the city of Berd in Tavush will be besieged (there will be only one very poor, partly dirt road available through Chambarak) and one of the two routes to Tbilisi will also be blocked.

Why is this necessary for Azerbaijan? To impose a peace agreement on Armenia under unfavorable conditions, forcing Armenia to renounce any claims to Artsakh, compelling the Armenian side to declare and sign that no genocide has occurred in Artsakh, and also forcing Armenia to accept that the lands occupied by Azerbaijan in September 2022 in the regions of Jermuk, Lake Sevan, and Verin Shorja are also part of Azerbaijan. Additionally, Azerbaijan (in conjunction with Russia) aims to suppress any attempts to break away from Russian influence in Armenia and impose the defense of Armenian borders by the same Russian peacekeepers who effectively handed over de facto Artsakh to Azerbaijani troops two weeks ago.