ArmInfo.Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Armenia`s Premier Nikol Pashinyan denied the accusations of the planned surrender of the Hin Taher and Khtsberd villages, Hadrut region.
Tigran Abrahamyan of the With Honor parliamentary faction reminded the MPs that about a year ago Azerbaijani troops occupied the two villages, which were under Armenia`s control on November 9, 2020, when the trilateral statement was signed. The Azerbaijani troops not only occupied the villages, but also killed about ten people and captured 62 others, who have not yet been repatriated. "In fact, it was a process that was beyond the November 9 trilateral statement," Abrahamyan said. He inquired about whether the villages in question were considered Armenian one under the trilateral statement and about the reasons why the issue of return of the villages has not so far been raised if, under the November 9, 2020 statement, they were not among the regions to be brought under Azerbaijan`s control.
In response, Armenia`s premier stated that "nine warriors and heroes sacrificed their lives for the Homeland." "A criminal investigation has been launched into the episode. I would like to say with regret that - I would not like to make comments about the judicial system - one of the key persons involved has not been arrested as courts rejected the applications for his arrest," the premier said. Pashinyan said he is well aware of the issues "the opposition forces have their own ideas of and interests in, and formulate sentences in such a way that responding to them could give rise to political speculations." "Theses topics contain much information related to state interests, as well as confidential information subject to additional examination. I would like to end my answer here," the premier said. However, Abrahamyan tried to find out whether the Armenian government admits that Azerbaijan`s actions run counter to the November 9, 2020 agreement or they consider such actions in harmony with the trilateral statement on the end of hostilities. A year has passed, and a few criminal investigations seem to be an attempt to place the responsibility on some junior officers who did not actually play any significant role in the aforementioned hostilities, Abrahamyan said.
In response, the premier assured the opposition MP that this impression is wrong as "it is a question of high-ranking officials." "If we had considered the situation to be in line with the November 9 statement, the martyrs I have mentioned would not have been on those positions. That is, if they were there it means we believe the situation was not in line with the logic of the November 9 statement," Pashinyan said.