Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Vitaly Balasanyan has said that Azerbaijani families won't be returning to the Krkzhan and Ajapnyak regions of Stepanakert or the village of Ivanyan (Khojalu) of Askeran region in the future.

According to him, such fears are groundless.

Balasanyan also noted that rumors alleging that the flag of Azerbaijan will be installed in state institutions in Stepanakert have nothing to do with reality either.

"I assure you that such conversations are groundless. Dear people of Artsakh, the state constantly commits to fulfilling its obligations to ensure the safety and normal life of the population,” he said.

Balasanyan also commented on rumors about the disbandment of the Artsakh Defense Army. He said the country is now working on the formation of professional military units on a contract basis.

The son-in-law of former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, former Ambassador to the Vatican Mikael Minasyan said earlier that the Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Armenia allegedly had already given their consent to the disbandment of the Artsakh Defense Army.