Tuesday, September 26 2023 15:35

ArmInfo.Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic  of Iran Ebrahim Raisi at the Iranian side's initiative.

According to the Kremlin press service, Ebrahim Raisi thanked  Vladimir Putin for supporting Iran's application to join BRICS. The  sides discussed steps to ensure Iran's gradual involvement in BRICS  activities, taking into account Russia's chairmanship in 2024.

"They had a thorough exchange of views on the Nagorno-Karabakh  situation and on normalising relations between Azerbaijan and  Armenia. Vladimir Putin informed the President of Iran about the  activities of Russian peacekeeping forces, including the provision of  humanitarian aid to civilians, and ensuring the rights and security  of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The leaders emphasised the  importance of resolving all issues exclusively through peaceful,  political and diplomatic means. They expressed a mutual interest in  stepping up the work of the 3+3 consultative regional platform  (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia plus Russia, Iran and Turkey).

While discussing issues on the bilateral agenda, the presidents  expressed satisfaction with the constructive and mutually beneficial  nature of Russian-Iranian cooperation. They reaffirmed their  intention to further strengthen trade and economic ties, promote  major joint projects in the energy and transport sectors, expand  contacts between business communities and tourist exchanges," the  source notes.

On September 19, Azerbaijan, under the pretext of an "anti-terrorist  operation," undertook another act of aggression against Artsakh. As a  result of enemy aggression, hundreds of Artsakh residents were  injured, more than 200 deaths were reported, including civilians, and  more than 10,000 were evacuated.

On September 20, Artsakh fell. Azerbaijan began the forcible  subjugation of the NKR. On September 20, late in the evening it  became known that Azerbaijan had deliberately shot at the car of the  Russian peacekeeping contingent, killing 5 people, including the  deputy commander of the RPC. Today, there were reports that one  soldier was killed and another was wounded as a result of shooting at  another RPCvehicle.  On September 21, a meeting between  representatives of Baku and Stepanakert was held in Yevlakh.   Azerbaijan demanded the disarmament of the Artsakh Defense Army, the  surrender of all military personnel and the abolition of all  government bodies.

On September 22, the process of abolishing the Artsakh Defense Army  began. There are reports that the enemy side exterminated the  population of the villages captured on September 19-20. During search  operations from September 21 to 24, the NKR Ministry of Internal  Affairs discovered the bodies of 105 Artsakh residents, including  brutally murdered children and elderly people.

As of the morning of September 26, more than 13 thousand forcibly  displaced Artsakh residents had already arrived in Armenia. The night  before it also became known that Artsakh was connected to the energy  system of Azerbaijan. Protests demanding the resignation of the RA  Prime Minister continue in Yerevan and regions.

We add that as a result of the explosion that took place in the fuel  depot near Stepanakert yesterday, according to preliminary data, more  than 290 people were injured, 20 more died, there are still missing  people.