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Armenia’s former Defense Minister David Tonoyan has dismissed as “unacceptable” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's claims about the “fifth column” in the Armenian military and its further discussions.

Speaking at a news conference last week, Pashinyan blamed the "fifth column" in the army for Armenia’s defeat in the 2020 Artsakh war. He said more than 50 former military officers had been accused of espionage and treason.

Meanwhile, the premier warned of a high risk of an escalation on the border with Azerbaijan and in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Tonoyan, who was arrested in 2021 in a criminal probe into supplies of allegedly faulty ammunition to Armenia’s armed forces, called the statements a “political speculation aimed at splitting the army,” his legal team said on Thursday.

Asked whether Pashinyan had discussed the matter with Tonoyan, the former minister said there was not even a hint of it. He also noted that he did not know whether the prime minister had any evidence, although Pashinyan himself claimed his statements were well-grounded.

"I believe that it is necessary to stop the public debates on the political speculation and to wait for the disclosure of the facts also given the high likelihood of renewed hostilities," the ex-minister added.