Kapan Mayor Gevorg Parsyan told Hetq today that Armenian defenders of the border received an order from the Armenian Defense Ministry that Armenian defensive positions overlooking the town must be vacated by tomorrow and handed over to Azerbaijani control.

Parsyan said he was saddened but not surprised by the order.

“I figured that our authorities would reach such a conclusion. I had my fears,” Parsyan told Hetq by telephone.

These positions ensured the safety of the town, with a population of some 43,000, that serves as the administrative capital of Armenia’s southeastern Syunik Province.

Mayor Parsyan says that the distance from the non-residential part of Kapan city will be 100 meters from the border, and one km from the residential part.

At present, some sections of the Goris-Kapan-Meghri highway traverse areas that must either pass under Azerbaijani control or appear on the immediate border.

He said that Russian border guards will be dispatched to provide security for the roadway but couldn’t say if checkpoints will be installed along the way.

When asked if Armenian Armed Forces be deployed at some points as well, Parsyan said probably not, that it would be the work of border guards.

Some territories east of Syunik Province had been under Armenian control until the November 9 ceasefire agreement and constituted the Kashatagh District of Artsakh.