ArmInfo.Armenia's former minister of defense David Tonoyan responded to Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinyan's statement at his press conference on May 22, when the premier stated that even before the statement of November 9, 2020, was signed, two points - one on enclaves and the other on a corridor via Armenia - had been removed from the text.
A number of government members disagreed with that position and called for signing the document with the on enclaves in it. Later, however, the same people accused the authorities of betrayal and demanded their resignation, Mr Pashinyan said.
In his statement, Mr Tonoyan presented some details.
"Given the challenges Armenia and Artsakh are facing now, I am presenting some details. After consultations on November 9, 2020, he [the premier] decided against signing the proposed draft statement. He instructed me, the minister of foreign affairs and heads of other agencies to convey his position to the Russian leadership. Before we received that instruction, Azerbaijan shot down a Russian helicopter from Nakhichevan, at about 6:30pm. Since we had not full information at our disposal, I had a rather hard talk with my Russian counterpart right at the premier's office," Mr Tonoyan said.
After it was clear that the Russian helicopter was shot down by the Azerbaijani side, he discussed the issues of "enclaves" with his Russian counterpart for four hours (the enclaves are located hundreds of kilometers from the conflict zone), deployment of peacekeeping forces, stationing of Armenian forces at their positions at the moment of the ceasefire was to be established, width of the Lachin corridor, etc. "the final draft of the agreed document, with no mention of 'enclaves', was submitted to Armenia's premier," Mr Tonoyan stated.
"As to the question of why the issue of 'enclaves' was not settled if, under the agreement, the Armenian troops were to remain at their positions as of November 9, 2020, - a question MPs and reporters keep on asking - I stress that what happened after my resignation on November 20, 2020, particularly the withdrawal of our troops from their positions in Syunik, as well as putting the issue of enclaves on the agenda again, has nothing to do with the agreements I reached as minister of defense of Armenia.
"Other details I can discuss only at the Parliamentary Investigative Commission (for the 44-day war) provided the Armenian premier participates in its meetings, for these facts not to be distorted by anyone later," Mr Tonoyan said.
At present, David Tonoyan is in pretrial detention on charges of abuse of office. He ruled out his participation in the work of the Parliamentary Investigative Commission because the information on hostilities, preceding and following events, is classified and he has no access to it because of being "under illegal arrest."
Mr Tonoyan also points out that he needs the necessary information to provide accurate data to the Commission. However, he has had no contacts with Armenia's Ministry of Defense since November 20, 2020, and has been "isolated on trumped up charges" for a year and seven months. Mr Tonoyan also doubts the impartiality of the Commission Chairman, Andranik Kocharyan, "given his irresponsible statements concerning myself and the Armed Forces, after November 9."