Deputy Governors of Syunik and Gegharkunik Deny Reports of EU Observers Evacuation

Reports have circulated online suggesting that EU observers were urgently evacuated from the regions of Gegharkunik and Syunik. This was reported by Hraparak.

In an interview with the media outlet, Arthur Vardanian, commander of a unit called 'Armenian Shield', stated that 'European observers have been urgently evacuated due to the tense military situation'.

Gegharkunik Deputy Governor Vahan Zaroyan, commenting on the news, said in an interview with Civic.am, 'I cannot confirm the news about the evacuation of observers from the region; at the moment I cannot say whether they are monitoring or not.'

Soon after, Syunik Deputy Governor Haik Harutyunyan noted that the observation mission is continuously carrying out its activities. 'They have conducted observations today, as they did yesterday; the governor's office is not obliged to be aware, and even less to announce it publicly,' he stated. In response to a reporter's follow-up question regarding the report from Hraparak that observers had been evacuated from the region, he added, 'I have no official information to that effect.'