Armenian officials accuse Azerbaijan of taking control of part of the Shikahogh reserve

Armenian officials accuse Azerbaijani troops of taking control of part of the Shikahogh nature reserve, located on the border between the two countries, and of cutting down forests to build military infrastructure.

The Azerbaijani side rejects the claims of occupying Armenian territory and says that the state border in that area has not yet been officially demarcated.

According to Armenian officials, Azerbaijani troops advanced along the border in 2021–2022 and took control of part of the reserve.

The Shikahogh reserve is located in southern Armenia, in Syunik province, along the border with Azerbaijan. Established in 1958, the reserve covers about 10,330 hectares and is considered Armenia's second-largest forest reserve.

Issues of the delimitation and demarcation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia are being discussed by government commissions of the two countries. In August 2025, the sides initialled the text of a peace agreement in Washington.

On 30 October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who took over the chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States from Azerbaijan, said Türkiye supports Azerbaijan's contacts with Armenia and will continue to contribute to a lasting peace.