Exchange of POWs for minefield maps gives arguments to Pashinyan's critics

The exchange of 15 prisoners of war (POWs) for minefield maps has hardly brought Nikol Pashinyan any political benefits ahead of the elections, as it has weakened Armenia's negotiating positions, analysts in Yerevan believe. The minefield maps of the territories now under the control of Baku are no longer needed by Armenia, but the safety of local residents depends on them, said Telman Abilov, an Azerbaijani expert.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 12, Azerbaijan exchanged 15 Armenian POWs for the maps showing 97,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines placed in the Agdam District. According to Nikol Pashinyan, the Acting Prime Minister of Armenia, the maps handed over to Baku are essential, but only a small part of the information about the minefields.

Naira Airumyan, a political observer, has stated that the exchange of POWs for minefield maps has to do, among other things, with the position of the member-countries of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The transfer of the minefield maps can only be regarded as a goodwill manifestation on the Armenian party, said Taron Ovannisyan, an expert at the Orbeli Centre.

Armenia had mined all the entire former contact line, Telman Abilov, an ex-head of the NGO "Military Lawyers", believes.

According to his story, Armenia should provide minefield maps of the territories now under the Azerbaijan's control, and have no importance for Armenia from the viewpoint of military security. He believes that Azerbaijan will seek to get all the minefield maps.