The conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is escalating. Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said on Sunday afternoon that the country’s troops had taken control of six towns. These reports were denied by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. In this country, martial law and general mobilization were ordered.
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According to the Armenian authorities, on Sunday morning Azeri forces launched an attack on civilian settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh, including Stepanakert, which is considered the capital of the region. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani defense ministry said that the Armenian armed forces “carried out large provocations” and fired on positions of the Azerbaijani army and border towns.
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Photos published by the Armenian Ministry of Defense to show the tanks of the Azerbaijani army PAP/EPA/MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF ARMENIA HANDOUT
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It also reported that it had launched a military operation along the so-called contact line, the heavily mined no-man’s land that separates Armenia-backed forces from Azerbaijani troops in the region.
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Azerbaijan’s defense department: we took control of six localities
On Sunday afternoon, the authorities in Baku announced that the Azerbaijani military had taken control of six towns as part of the operation. The Azerbaijani army announced the launch of an offensive towards the regions around the cities of Terter and Agdam, some of which are under the control of Nagorno-Karabakh.
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These reports were denied by the Defense Ministry of Armenia, judging that it was an informational provocation.
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Nagorno-Karabakh reported the shooting down of four Azerbaijani helicopters, 15 drones and 10 tanks.
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Earlier, Nagorno-Karabakh ombudsman Artak Belgarian reported on casualties and injuries among the civilian population as a result of the escalation of the conflict, of which Azerbaijan and Armenia accused each other. “In the morning of September 27, Azerbaijan opened missile and artillery fire and used drones to hit towns and infrastructure facilities, including the capital Stepanakert. There are losses among the population and destruction of civilian facilities,” the ombudsman’s press office informed.
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Recording provided by the Armenian military Reuters
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Martial law in Armenia
Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, announced on Sunday about the imposition of martial law in this country and general mobilization in connection with the escalation of the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh.
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Volunteers of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation gather to go to Nagorno-Karabakh PAP/EPA/MELIK BAGHDASARYAN
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“By the decision of the Armenian government in the republic, martial law and general mobilization are introduced. The decision takes effect at the time of publication” – wrote Pashinyan on Facebook and Twitter.
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Azerbaijan stressed that there was no need for a military mobilization due to the escalation of tensions around Karabakh, as its army was fully composed.
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Universal mobilization in Nagorno-Karabakh
Earlier, martial law and the general mobilization were announced by the head of Nagorno-Karabakh authorities, Araik Arutjunian.
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The recording of Arutjunjan’s statement was published on Facebook by his spokesman Wagram Pogosjan. “Due to the situation, I called an urgent session of the National Assembly and declared martial law and the general mobilization of people over 18” – he announced.
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Deutsche Welle’s correspondent informs that the inhabitants of the city of Szushi are hiding in shelters, electricity supplies have been suspended.
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Nagorno-Karabakh PAP/DPA
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“Military operations must be stopped immediately”
The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, on Sunday called on Azerbaijani forces and Armenia-backed separatists in the Nagorno-Karabakh region to end hostilities.
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“Information about the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh is the source of the most serious concern,” Michel wrote on Twitter. “Military activities must be stopped immediately to prevent escalation. The only possible path is to return to negotiations immediately without preconditions,” stressed the President of the Council.
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The French authorities expressed the same spirit and called on both sides to end hostile actions and initiate dialogue. “France is very concerned about the confrontation,” said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll. Together with the US and Russia, France co-chairs the OSCE Minsk group, which mediates talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke on Sunday with the head of diplomacy of Armenia Zohrab Mnacakanian, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow informed. The Russian minister “expressed deep concern over the ongoing large-scale combat operations” and reports of dead and wounded people. Russia has announced that it will mediate in the conflict with the countries of the Minsk group of the OSCE. Earlier on Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to the conflict to “stop firing without delay and start talks in order to stabilize the situation.”
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Turkey said on Sunday that Armenia must cease its hostilities against Azerbaijan immediately. Turkey, which does not maintain diplomatic relations with Armenia, has condemned the country for its provocations against Azerbaijan. “The greatest obstacle to peace and stability in the Caucasus is the hostile attitude of Armenia and it must immediately turn its back on this hostility that will cause a fire in the region,” Turkish Defense Minister General Hulusi Akar said on Sunday. He added that Ankara would back Baku “with all its resources” in this dispute.
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Addressing the faithful who came to the Angelus prayer in the Vatican, Pope Francis noted that news of clashes in the Caucasus was pouring in. He called on the parties to the conflict for concrete gestures of goodwill and brotherhood so that problems could be solved not by force or weapons, but through dialogue and negotiation. He assured him that he was praying for the Caucasus and called the faithful to pray for this intention.
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The conflict is over 30 years old
The armed conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in 1988, just before the collapse of the USSR. The clashes turned into a war between the already independent Armenia and Azerbaijan. It took about 30,000 deaths. In 1994 an armistice was signed. Unrecognized by the world, mostly inhabited and Armenian-controlled enclave, although it has declared secession, formally remains part of Azerbaijan. In recent months, clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan forces have intensified.
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The military in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2016 PAP/EPA/VAHRAM BAGHDASARYAN / PHOTOLURE
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photo-source">Main photo source: PAP/EPA/MELIK BAGHDASARYAN
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