Armenia and Azerbaijan exchanged statements on border situation

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) has treated the statement of the Armenian side that the Azerbaijani soldiers have left the new combat positions equipped on the Nakhichevan section of the border as disinformation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 8, 2018, the press service of the Separate All-Arms Army of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR) in Azerbaijan announced the restoration of control over the village of Gyunnyut and the surrounding heights. However, Armenian military observers have stated that the positions of the Armenian Armed Forces continue staying on Mount Gyunnyut, while the new firing points are just an Azerbaijan's attempt by divert part of the Armenian forces from the Karabakh to the Nakhchivan direction.

Some of the positions erected by Azerbaijan in 2018 in the Nakhichevan segment of the border with Armenia were subsequently abandoned due to the inability to ensure normal supply in winter, said Colonel Andranik Piloyan, the Commander of the Fifth Armenian Corps.

The Azerbaijani MoD has refuted reports that the positions were abandoned. "Unlike the Armenian side, on the heights, where Azerbaijani soldiers are stationed, there is not a single post or combat position that is not fully supplied. These positions are equipped with communication lines and fully provided with all supplies in accordance with the season," the "Trend" quoted the Azerbaijani MoD on May 24.

The MoD has blamed the Armenian side for deliberately disseminating disinformation and linked it with the large-scale military exercises in Azerbaijan, the "Trend" reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 25, 2019 at 09:52 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.