After the withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the bordering Kubatlu and Zangelan districts around Karabakh on December 27, 2020, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan assured that “everything is being done for the security of Syunik.” Syunik is Armenia’s southernmost region, bordering mainland Azerbaijan as a result of the Second Karabakh / Artsakh War. In reality, Pashinyan did not need to withdraw the Armenian military from the Zangelan and Kubatlu regions because the November 9 trilateral statement said that the sides could stay on the positions that they held on November 10, and Armenian forces need to only withdraw the five districts of Lachin, Jebrayil, Aghdam, Fizuli, Kelbajar. Armenians were still holding positions in Zangelan and Kubatlu areas on November 9 – both regions provided a buffer zone for Syunik. What is happening today in Armenia’s south is directly related to the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the remaining areas of those two regions. Roughly two months after the war, on December 27, 2020, Pashinyan said: “The most important issue is the security issue. Today, as a result of our withdrawal from all districts, a war in Syunik was prevented. Because now in case of [Azerbaijani] encroachment on Syunik, not only the Armenian Armed Forces, not only Armenia, but also Russia will intervene. And this was done for that.” Pashinyan further emphasized that, “Our territorial integrity is the [proverbial] red line.” To read the full story, check out the article on Civilnet.
https://www.civilnet.am/news/608197/has-azerbaijan-crossed-armenias-red-line/?lang=en
