Andranik Kocharyan: Armenia Has an Issue with Its Border Posts That Must Be Addressed

YEREVAN — “We have an issue with our border posts that needs to be addressed,” Civil Contract MP and former Chairman of the National Assembly’s Defense and Security Committee Andranik Kocharyan said during a press briefing at the National Assembly, commenting on the recent incident involving an Azerbaijani serviceman who crossed into Armenia’s Syunik Province.

Asked how the Azerbaijani serviceman had managed to cross the border and remain in a civilian’s home for two days, Kocharyan said final assessments would be made after the conclusion of an internal investigation.

“All of our relevant services must work together on this incident. They should not only conduct an investigation but thoroughly examine the entire area,” the lawmaker said.

Addressing speculation over whether the serviceman had become lost or had entered Armenian territory as a saboteur, Kocharyan stressed that all possible scenarios must be thoroughly investigated.

According to him, the fact that the local resident was able to defend himself and his family suggests that the incident involved a uniformed Azerbaijani serviceman who had crossed into Armenian territory, rather than a member of a specially trained unit. Nevertheless, Kocharyan did not rule out the possibility that such actions could be intended to mislead the Armenian side.

“If special services have a specific objective, they can reach virtually anywhere. Of course, they would not do so in uniform, in this manner or carrying an assault rifle. But we are now dealing with a situation that must be prevented from happening again, because this individual spent two days not only in our territory but also inside the home of an Armenian citizen,” Kocharyan said.

Referring to a similar incident in Syunik in 2023, when Azerbaijani servicemen crossed into Armenian territory and a security guard at the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine was killed, Kocharyan said extensive measures had been taken following that incident. He stressed that authorities must now determine how a similar breach was able to occur again.

Regarding the possibility of handing the detained Azerbaijani serviceman over to Azerbaijan, Kocharyan said a criminal case has been opened and that the authorities must proceed in accordance with the law.

“Such a handover does not simply happen; it takes place in exchange for something,” he added.