ArmInfo.In connection with the aggravation of the situation in the zone of the peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, on March 25, 2022, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, had a telephone conversation with the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Zakir Hasanov.
According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Defense, the heads of defense departments discussed ways to stabilize the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and maintain security in the Transcaucasus. In addition, the parties exchanged views on the course of the peacekeeping operation and the humanitarian situation in the zone of its implementation.
It should be noted yesterday, the Artsakh Information Center reported that the units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, grossly violating the November 10 trilateral statement of 2020 invaded the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops in the Artsakh Republic, taking control of the village of Parukh of Askeran region and adjacent positions, and then tried to advance on the eastern border of the Artsakh Republic. The hours-long negotiations held by the Russian peacekeeping troops and relevant structures of Artsakh did not have tangible effect, the enemy did not return to the starting positions. Moreover, the Azerbaijani military units opened fire on the Defense Army units using both firearms of various calibers and a strike UAV. At least 5 servicemen of the enemy were killed as a result of the skirmish. There is one wounded from the Armenian side. As of 9 AM the situation is relatively stable. We anticipate that the Russian peacekeeping troops will take measures to return the Azerbaijani units to their starting positions.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in this regard, and shifted all responsibility for the further development of the situation to the Russian peacekeepers. " We expect that the Russian peacekeeping forces in whose area of responsibility the provocation takes place will undertake measures to ensure that the Azerbaijani troops immediately return to their initial positions and adhere to the commitments undertaken under the November 9 Trilateral Statement.
We call on the international community to make a clear assessment of Azerbaijan's provocative actions aimed at undermining the peace process and to support efforts for establishing peace in the South Caucasus and achieving a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
Today, the NKR Defense Army reported that at night the Azerbaijani Armed Forces provoked a shootout and used a strike UAV in Nagorno-Karabakh. As a result of these actions of the enemy, 5 servicemen of the Artsakh Defense Army were injured.