Analyst says Armenian soldiers face Azerbaijani inspections on sovereign territory

Political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan says Armenian soldiers heading to a frontline position have to pass through an Azerbaijani road barrier located on sovereign Armenian territory.

“To understand the degree of Armenia’s sovereignty, you must know that we have a combat position where our soldiers pass through an Azerbaijani road barrier with inspections during rotation,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday, adding that the barrier is located on Armenian sovereign territory.

“On sovereign Armenian territory, Azerbaijanis inspect Armenian soldiers heading to a combat position. This is the kind of sovereignty we have,” the analyst stated.

Armenian Defiance Minister Suren Papikyan addressed the issue at a press conference on January 13, saying the situation dates back to May 2021 and concerns a position near Sev Lake (Black Lake).

“The choice is clear: either we abandon that position, or we pass by an Azerbaijani position,” Papikyan said, adding abandoning the position would amount to surrender of territory.

“Armenian soldiers pass by an Azerbaijani position, a so-called block post,” Papikyan said. “Azerbaijanis do not inspect our soldiers.”