“Armenia is withdrawing its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh, deployed there during the 44-day war in the fall of 2020,” stated the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, on July 19.

"During the war, several units of the Armenian Armed Forces came to the aid of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army. After the establishment of the ceasefire regime and the deployment of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation, the withdrawal of units of the Armenian armed forces is quite natural,” the administrative head of the Security Council noted.

“Such a decision will not leave [separatist] Nagorno-Karabakh defenseless,” he expressed confidence. “Previously, the functions of ensuring the security of the unrecognized republic were performed by its Defence Army. And in this regard, nothing has changed. However, at the same time, the deployment of Russian peacekeeping forces in the region is a guarantee of security,” the high-ranking official stressed. "The presence of Russian peacekeeping forces indicates Russia's recognition of the existence of a real existential threat to the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the peacekeeping forces are of key importance in ensuring the security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh," Grigoryan added.

The Secretary of the Security Council further explained that the process of withdrawing units of the Armenian Armed Forces is close to completion and will be fully completed in September.