Armenian Prime Minster Nikol Pashinyan, in a live Facebook post today, argued that thousands of Armenian soldiers in Artsakh would have found themselves trapped had he not signed a ceasefire declaration on November 9.

Pashinyan said that advancing Azerbaijani troops were on the verge of capturing Stepanakert, the Artsakh capital, this according to the assessment of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces and the President of Artsakh.

Pashinyan said that had he not signed the declaration (also signed by Russia and Azerbaijan), the remaining territories of Artsakh still under the control of Armenian forces might have been lost as well.

 "The biggest guilt attributed to me is that well-known document, which says that I agreed to hand over Lachin, Aghdam and Kelbajar to Azerbaijan. It may seem surprising, but this episode is not about handing over, but keeping, because that document was signed in a situation when Shushi had fallen and the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces reported to me that the resources, to put it mildly, were in a rather problematic state. In fact, that document provided what, according to military, non-military assessments, we would not be able to keep," said Pashinyan.

Pashinyan said that had the war continued, Askeran would have remained defenseless, except for Stepanakert, and Martuni's defenses were very unstable.

He said that Armenian soldiers in the remaining areas risked being trapped.

Pashinyan said that Armenian troops attempted to reoccupy Shushi after it fell.

The first attempt failed. On the second try, one Armenian detachment did enter the town but was unable to reverse the situation on the ground.