EU Monitoring Mission Restricted from Armenia’s Nerkin Hand: Calls for Answers from Russia

Markus Ritter, the head of the European Union civilian monitoring mission in Armenia (EUMA), disclosed that the mission has been denied access to the Nerkin Hand village area, a region falling under the jurisdiction of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ritter emphasized that, despite having access to the entire territory of Armenia, the EUMA faced restrictions in the Nerkin Hand area.

Ritter acknowledged the anticipation of potential entry issues into Nerkin Hand from the mission's inception. When questioned about the reasons for the denied access, Ritter suggested directing inquiries to the Russian side. He clarified that the EUMA operates as a guest in Armenia and, as the host party, Armenia should handle the matter. Notably, the EUMA does not engage with the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in Armenia.

Highlighting the specificity of the problem, Ritter pointed out that Nerkin Hand stands out as the only area where such access issues have surfaced.

The restriction on the EUMA's access to Nerkin Hand gained attention following the recent incident in the region, which resulted in the loss of four Armenian soldiers, as mentioned by Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia. Grigoryan had previously stated that the Russian side, present in Nerkin Hand, was unable to prevent the tragic incident, sparking concerns and raising questions about the dynamics at play in the region.