Armenian Defense Ministry insists Azeri Forces haven't moved forward

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Defense Ministry insists that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have not advanced towards the village of Nerkin Hand in Syunik province, maintaining that the Azeri forces were first deployed in the area in the spring of 2021.

Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan said earlier that a memorial to the victims of the Great Patriotic War, a church, pastures with an area of 50 hectares and arable lands and gardens in the village are now constantly being monitored by the Azerbaijani military. Grigoryan's fact-finding mission revealed, however, that the deployment of the Azerbaijani armed forces in early March 2022, including the installation of several tents and new roads being built behind their positions, is new. The residents have not previously noticed any Azerbaijani servicemen or positions in said area. They said they had collected wood from that place two months prior.

According to a statement from the Defense Ministry, however, claims about the advancement of Azerbaijanis are not true. Back in 2021, the Armenian authorities say, the servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces dug trenches, but they equipped the positions only in 2022, which "could have led to an assumption about the current advancement".

The Defense Ministry also insists that the territory of the village is not being monitored by the military personnel of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, since the settlement is located two kilometers from their positions

"The Armenian Armed Forces are on combat duty and control any movements of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, therefore, their advancement is ruled out," the Ministry added.