Aliyev calls Putin and apologizes for killing peacekeepers

ArmInfo. At the initiative of the Azerbaijani side, a telephone conversation took place between  Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

According to the Kremlin press service, Ilham Aliyev apologized and  expressed deep condolences over the tragic death of servicemen of the  Russian peacekeeping contingent (RPC) in Nagorno-Karabakh on  September 20. It was emphasized that the most thorough investigation  of what happened will be carried out and all those responsible will  receive due punishment. In this regard, the Prosecutor General's  Offices of the two countries are in close contact. The President of  Azerbaijan also expressed his readiness to provide financial  assistance to the families of the victims.

Both sides noted the importance of the consistent implementation of  the agreements reached with the assistance of the RPC on the complete  cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. In this context, great  importance is attached to the negotiations that began with the  mediation of peacekeepers between representatives of Baku and  Stepanakert.

Priority steps to further stabilize the situation and overcome  humanitarian problems in the region were discussed. Vladimir Putin  emphasized the importance of ensuring the rights and security of the  Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The readiness of the  Azerbaijani side to interact on these issues with Russian  peacekeepers was confirmed.

It was agreed to intensify work on the negotiation track in line with  the well-known trilateral agreements at the highest level in  2020-2022, primarily in terms of opening transport links, delimiting  the Azerbaijani- Armenian border and preparing a peace treaty between  Baku and Yerevan.

Yesterday, enemy forces attacked an RPC vehicle returning from a  patrol in Nagorno-Karabakh. All the peacekeepers in the car died.  According to the media, two deputy commanders of the RPC, a driver  and two ordinary peacekeepers were killed.  This is not the first  time that the enemy side, allegedly by mistake, strikes at the  Russian military. On November 9, 2020, the AR Armed Forces shot down  a Russian helicopter on the territory of the Republic of Armenia,  both pilots were killed. The enemy side then also offered only  nominal apologies. The perpetrators were not brought to justice.