"The Barbed Wire Placed by the Armenian Side Remains Incomplete; Azerbaijan Has Dug Trenches Across the Entire Length" - Hovsepyan

On March 30, 2023, representatives of the Azerbaijani armed forces infiltrated the territory of the Tegh community in the Syunik province and began to establish positions. After settling in, on April 11, the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire on Armenian soldiers conducting engineering works near Armenian positions, resulting in 4 fatalities and 6 injuries on the Armenian side.

Recently, the Azerbaijani side has not allowed the Armenian side to stretch barbed wire between Armenian and Azerbaijani positions. In an interview with 168.am, member of the Tegh community council, Argam Hovsepyan, stated that Azerbaijan has dug trenches almost 3 km long and established positions.

"The barbed wire placed by the Armenian side remains incomplete, I don’t know what happened; I don’t understand. The Azerbaijani side has meticulously dug a trench from the upper post down to the lower one - all the way along,' said Hovsepyan.

According to him, no matter how much the Armenian side declares at the highest level that Azerbaijan must retreat from the areas it has invaded, Azerbaijan will not simply withdraw. "I’m telling you, Azerbaijan has dug trenches and established positions behind them, and after doing so much work and fortifying, don’t expect them to leave easily. We know the enemy; they won't just withdraw. We can only reclaim our territory by force, as Azerbaijan is doing nothing through diplomacy, and I believe everyone understands this well. You have to forcefully expel the Turk from these territories. Currently, 68 hectares of the small village of Aravus has been occupied by Azerbaijan since 2020; had they been withdrawing, they would have left those territories," emphasized Hovsepyan.

Hovsepyan also informed that the remaining lands on the Armenian side are being cultivated by residents; however, 80 percent of the population has sold their livestock due to pasture issues.