Adam Schiff condemns Azerbaijan’s aggression against Karabakh

 Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, condemns Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh.

 

“I am deeply disturbed by and condemn this terrible new escalation in Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno Karabakh in the form of a significant military assault which killed 18 Armenian soldiers and at least one civilian — a young boy. That this attack comes just hours after Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev returned from meetings in Washington, D.C. with Vice President Biden and Secretary Kerry demonstrates that the policy of the United States and the Minsk Group is simply not working,” Asbarez quotes Adam Schiff as saying.

“Until Azerbaijan faces strong and meaningful consequences over their policy of escalation and violence and its self-serving refusal to agree to international monitoring of the Line of Contact, there is little chance of resolving the conflict and avoiding further bloodshed. The true victims of this policy are the people of Artsakh who simply want to live free of sniper fire and mortar barrages and to exercise their right of self-determination,” he says.

On April 1 night, the Azerbaijani army attacked the positions of the NKR Defense Army along the entire line of contact, using artillery, armored vehicles and air force. The adversary targeted also the populated areas and civil facilities. Fierce battles are still going on along the line of contact. The Armenian Air Defense Forces took retaliatory measures, shooting down 2 Azerbaijani military helicopters, 3 drones, and destroying 5 battle tanks. The adversary has suffered serious human losses (over 200 people). The Armenian side has also suffered losses – 18 victims and 35 wounded. On April 3 morning, at 6 am, Azerbaijan resumed its aggressive actions on the southern section of the line of contact, using artillery and armored vehicles. The situation remains critically tense.