‘Azerbaijani Sabotage Operation Aimed at Two Objectives’ – Reserve Colonel

‘If the relocation of weapons was the reason they allegedly tried to prevent it, there should have been at least some evidential basis. Those militants could have put a few boxes in the car, filmed it, made a video, etc., but I don’t think that was the primary goal,’ said military expert, Reserve Colonel Haik Nahapetyan, during a broadcast on 24TV, referring to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces' sabotage operation on March 5.

‘The fact remains that there is no evidential basis that weapons were transported in that vehicle. They could have created that basis artificially and falsely. If they had managed to neutralize the cameras beforehand, they certainly hadn’t neutralized everything, because it was in the observation area. Secondly, they perhaps did not realize that, in fact, they are not only in the visibility field but also in a fire vulnerability zone, resulting in casualties, after which they retreated,’ the expert added.

Continuing his analysis of the incident, the speaker noted, ‘I believe the Azerbaijani sabotage operation aimed at two objectives. The first is to show the Artsakh authorities that any vehicle moving along that road can be subjected to attack at any time. The second has a propaganda aim; comments came from Baku after the incident stating that the Russian peacekeepers are not performing their duties well and therefore must leave.’