Defense Minister says Azerbaijan had planned helicopter downing in advance

YEREVAN, 20 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The November 12 downing by Azerbaijani air forces of the helicopter during a flight in training was a provocation that had been planned in advance. This is what Armenia’s Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan announced during a November 20 briefing with journalists at “Yerablur” Military Pantheon. “The crew of the helicopter was downed during a flight in training in our territory. This is a violation of all types of norms. The Azerbaijanis were aware of the drills and it’s obvious that that’s when the level of combat readiness is raised, and I believe there had been an instruction to down the helicopter,” Seyran Ohanyan said, according to “ArmenPress”, and added that all kinds of violations committed during these past years are provocations to ensure an adequate level of tension and to have Azerbaijan make progress in the negotiations.