Armenian journalist Jirayr Voskanyan claimed that Russia has increased its military presence in the Zangezur region.
Modern.az reports, citing the Armenian media, that the journalist stated that Russian servicemen are still operating on the main roads in the Meghri region.
According to him, although the Armenian authorities declared that Russian servicemen were withdrawn from those territories, they continue to illegally impose various restrictions on local and foreign citizens.
Voskanyan claimed that after the elections, cars of individuals coming to Meghri from European countries and other regions of Armenia were stopped by Russian servicemen in the direction of Nuvadi village (Armenian: Nrnadzor). It was stated that special permission is required for Armenian and foreign citizens not registered in Meghri to enter Nuvadi village.
The journalist reminded that the mentioned road is located on the route where the Zangezur corridor is planned to pass. He claimed that the detained individuals were taken to the Meghri police department after being held and interrogated for several hours.
Voskanyan called on the relevant Armenian authorities to clarify the issue, asking questions about the legal basis on which Russian servicemen operate in Zangezur and by whom they were given the authority to restrict the freedom of movement of local residents.
It should be noted that Nuvadi village is considered one of the ancient Azerbaijani villages of Zangezur. Local Azerbaijanis were forced to leave the village by the Armenian authorities in August 1991.
