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Tigran Abrahamyan, a lawmaker representing the opposition Pativ Unem (With Honor) bloc, on Friday brushed off the claims that the handover of the Artsakh town of Berdzor (Lachin) and its two surrounding villages, Aghavno and Sus, to Azerbaijan is envisaged by the 2020 ceasefire agreement.

He cited the part of the document calling for the construction of a new highway that will replace the Lachin corridor, which is Artsakh’s sole overland link to Armenia.

“As agreed by the parties, within the next three years, a plan will be outlined for the construction of a new route connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh along the Lachin corridor, and the Russian peacemaking forces shall be subsequently relocated to protect the route,” reads the document.

“Those claiming that the withdrawal of the Armenian population from Berdzor, Aghavno and Sus and the surrender of the settlements are stipulated in the trilateral statement, let them show the wording to that effect,” Abrahamyan wrote on Facebook.

He claims the alternative road project could have been discussed and approved in a way which would have allowed the Armenian communities to remain in the 5-kilometer section of the Lachin corridor and would not be handed over to Azerbaijan.

“I am more inclined to think that after the 44-day war this term of the trilateral statement is implemented in line with Azerbaijan's claims and threats,” he wrote, adding the situation is complicated and requires “carefully measured” solution to prevent new losses.

“Negotiations with Azerbaijan on various matters imply a complex process, which under the current Armenian government does not allow for a favourable outcome for us,” the MP said.