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Armenia’s former Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan has shared a photo showing illegal deployment of Azerbaijani forces on the Kapan-Chakaten road.

“This is the unlawful Azerbaijani military deployment on the main Kapan-Chakaten road; because of the so-called customs and border control installed in November 2021, the main road has been completely blocked,” he wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

The road is of strategic and vital significance for the whole Kapan community in terms of security. It connects the town of Kapan with the villages of Chakaten, Srashen, Shikahogh, Nerkin Hand, Tsav and Shishkert. Syunik Airport in Kapan is in the immediate vicinity of this road, the ex-ombudsman underscored.

“Moreover, the so-called alternative road passes directly under the Azerbaijani deployment without security guarantees,” he noted

“The deployment of Azerbaijani troops in these areas poses a direct threat primarily to Kapan, as well as the whole country, to the life and security of the entire population. They have other deployments and have completely disrupted the normal life of people.

“Any Azerbaijani armed presence near our villages or on community roads has no legal basis, and is completely unlawful,” Tatoyan said.