Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Threatens Artsakh Army and Armenian Population

Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov has stated that the illegal armed formations in Nagorno-Karabakh do not pose a serious threat to Azerbaijan. This refers to the Artsakh Defense Army.

"We do not highly assess the capabilities of these illegal armed groups that remain. We know their numbers, their weapons, and their moral-psychological state; we know what they are capable of. I assure you, as Mr. President (Ilham Aliyev) has mentioned, they have absolutely no chance of taking any action against the Azerbaijani army," Hasanov said in an interview with Azerbaijani CBC.

According to him, the Artsakh Defense Army is capable of carrying out "small provocations that will end very badly."

"But if they resort to provocations and decide to carry out any illegal actions against the Azerbaijani armed forces, then one corps of the Azerbaijani army, and not even fully equipped, can confront these groups. The balance of forces and resources is not in their favor. One unit can disarm them," Hasanov threatened.

He also noted that Azerbaijan has comprehensive information about the Artsakh Defense Army due to its significant intelligence capabilities. Hasanov made threats directed at the Armenian population of Artsakh as well.

"Whoever wishes to recognize Azerbaijani laws and live legally can do so; those who do not wish to, the way is open, they can go and live wherever they want," Hasanov stated, reaffirming Baku's goal to ethnically cleanse Artsakh.