If Ceasefire Was Refused, 20,000 Armenian Military Would Have Been Captured - Pashinyan

Baku / 12.11.20 / Turan: On November 12, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the nation with an explanation of the reasons for signing the document on Karabakh.

"On September 27, the war began, and it ended with the signing of a document that disappointed the society and raised questions the answers to which are expected from me. Why was the document signed? This happened in conditions when the General Staff reported that every minute is very important, and the military actions must be suspended," said the Prime Minister.

He noted that there was a threat of losing Stepanakert. Many people say that whereas they lost Hadrut and Shushi, what difference does it make, so Stepanakert could have been lost too.

In fact, the loss of Stepanakert would have led to the loss of Askeran and Martakert. In the early days of the war, these cities were in the rear, and accordingly there were no defensive fortifications. Nor were there enough combat-ready forces to defend these cities.

"With the loss of these cities, our defensive areas would be surrounded by the enemy. More than 20 thousand soldiers and officers would be in a ring with the prospect of death or capture. The fall of Karvachar and Kashatag would be inevitable," he said.

“That is why I signed this infamous treaty. I chose the lives of 25,000 soldiers over my career and my life,” he said.      -02D-