Pashinyan admits Azerbaijan has advanced 3.5km into Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has admitted that the Azerbaijani military has advanced 3.5km into the southern Armenian province of Syunik.

Addressing a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, May 12, Pashinyan said the Azeris were trying to surround and siege Sev Lake, which lies on the border between the countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia.

"It still remains to be seen why such a thing was possible in the first place, but it should be noted that this is an act of subversive infiltration. It should also be stated that our armed forces responded this morning with appropriate tactical maneuvers and other necessary measures," Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan said the Azerbaijanis did not use firearms or any other weapons throughout the process and are trying to justify the advance with some fake maps.

"We still have in our possession a map approved by the central government in Soviet era, which clearly shows where the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan runs," he said.

"However, the current situation is unacceptable to us; the Republic of Armenia cannot simply accept it, but given what we have now, our primary task is to settle the matter through negotiations, through diplomatic means. This is one of the options."

Pashinyan also said Armenia can't tolerate and come to terms with the situation, which he said is "near-critical, if not critical."