Analysts in Yerevan claim capture of strategic heights by Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani militaries have occupied strategic heights in Armenia in order to take control over all the roads leading to Karvachar, the military analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 25, the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported the death of a 32-year-old contract soldier at the border near the village of Verin Shorzha in the Gegarkunik District of Armenia as a result of a shootout with Azerbaijani military servicemen. The Azerbaijani MoD denied reports of any shelling of the positions of the Armenian Army by Azerbaijani militaries on the border near the village of Verin Shorzha, and stated that the death of an Armenian soldier was an accident.

On May 25, Taron Oganesyan, an expert at the "Orbeli" Analytical Centre, posted maps in his Facebook page showing the Armenian and Azerbaijani positions in the Gegarkunik District of Armenia, where an Armenian soldier was allegedly killed. "The section where Junior Sergeant Khurshudyan perished is located deep in the territory of Armenia, this is no longer a border dispute," the expert has noted.

Azerbaijani militaries have penetrated the territory of the Black Lake in order to keep the city of Kapan under control, Robert Nazaryan, a military expert, believes.

"Azerbaijan follows the winner's logic, who takes whatever he can take. It has captured the strategic heights in all three districts – Syunik, Gegarkunik and Tavush, which hypothetically give Armenia a chance for revenge," the military expert has suggested.

"For Azerbaijanis, Karvachar is somewhat problematic, since in order to reach it (from their side), militaries must conquer a hardly passable mountain road 45-47 kilometres long," Mr Nazaryan has noted, suggesting that for this reason Azerbaijani militaries try to take control over all the roads running from Armenia to Karvachar.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 26, 2021 at 02:47 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.