Armenia has started actively building fortifications on the conditional border with Azerbaijan.

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan published footage of the work of Armenian construction workers.

“The concentration of troops by Armenia along the conditional border and the construction of strongholds, the creation of long-term firing points in different directions, and the construction of fortifications were recorded by special technical means at the disposal of our units,” the statement reads.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, the newly constructed reinforced concrete fortifications allegedly house artillery systems and other assault weapons.

Azerbaijan called such actions a potential escalation of the situation and warned of possible consequences.

For her part, Anne-Laurence Petel, member of the French National Assembly and Head of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, emphasized that Armenia is not an aggressor and has no plans to attack Azerbaijan.

She also appealed to EU High Representative Josep Borrell.

“Referring to the data of the EU observer mission in Armenia, Toivo Klaar clearly stated that there were no unusual military movements along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Mr. Borrell, you need to speak urgently on behalf of the EU and confirm the statement of your special representative: Armenia is not an aggressor and has no plans to attack Azerbaijan,” Petel emphasized.

A tense situation

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia stated that the implementation of engineering works on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia is the sovereign right of the country, the structures are exclusively defensive in nature and are aimed at protecting the territorial integrity of Armenia.

“The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan continues to spread disinformation, stating that Armenia is actively moving and accumulating personnel, armored vehicles, artillery, and other firepower in different directions of the border zone,” the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia stated.

At the same time, the Armenian Ministry of Defense claimed on April 2 that Azerbaijani army units allegedly opened fire in the direction of Armenian positions. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan noted that it was Azerbaijani forces that were attacked, not Armenian forces.

As previously reported, in February, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan considered the Russian-led CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) alliance a threat to his country’s national security.