MOSCOW, September 20. The parties to the conflict in Karabakh must immediately stop the bloodshed, stop hostilities, and also eliminate civilian casualties. This is stated in a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry website.
““In connection with the sharp escalation of the armed confrontation in Nagorno-Karabakh, we urge the conflicting parties to immediately stop the bloodshed, cease hostilities and eliminate casualties among the civilian population,” the document emphasizes.
The Foreign Ministry believes that the fate of the conflict resolution “drastically was influenced by Yerevan's recognition in October 2022 and May 2023 at summits under the auspices of the European Union of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the territory of Azerbaijan.”
“This changed the fundamental conditions under which the Statement of the Leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia dated November 9, 2020 was signed year, as well as the situation of the Russian peacekeeping contingent (RMK),” the ministry indicated.
Since its deployment in the region, the RMC has conscientiously carried out the tasks of maintaining the ceasefire and ensuring contacts between Baku and Yerevan, the department recalled.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also indicated that the peacekeepers coordinated efforts to rectify the humanitarian situation “on the ground,” and also contributed to the launch of a direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Stepanakert.” At the same time, the RMK is still supporting the civilian population by providing medical assistance and conducting evacuations, the ministry reported.< br>“
"The main thing now is to urgently return to the implementation of the set of trilateral agreements at the highest level for 2020-2022, which spell out all the steps for a peaceful solution to the Karabakh problem, stop the armed confrontation and do everything possible to ensure the rights and security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh Karabakh,” the department concluded.
In the afternoon, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense announced the start of “local anti-terrorist measures” to restore the constitutional order in Karabakh. Baku stated that they were disabling the positions of the Armenian Armed Forces, but were not attacking the civilian population and infrastructure.
In Yerevan, in turn, they emphasized that the Republican Army does not have any units or equipment in Karabakh. Pashinyan called attempts to involve Armenia in military escalation unacceptable and said that Russian peacekeepers and the international community should take measures.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed alarm at the escalation and called on the parties to return to a diplomatic settlement.
Conflict in KarabakhIn the fall of 2020, the next round of military confrontation around Nagorno-Karabakh ended with the conclusion of an agreement beneficial for Azerbaijan: Armenia returned the Kelbajar, Lachin and Aghdam regions; Russian peacekeepers were stationed in the region. Later, Baku and Yerevan, through the mediation of Russia, the United States and the European Union, began to discuss a future peace treaty.
In April 2023, Azerbaijani border guards established a checkpoint on the border with Armenia – it appeared at the beginning of the road in the Lachin corridor, which leads to Stepanakert . Yerevan announced a gross violation by Baku of the 2020 peace agreements.
At the end of May, Pashinyan announced his readiness to recognize the sovereignty of Azerbaijan within Soviet borders, that is, together with Karabakh. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev responded then that a peace treaty could be signed in the near future if Armenia’s position does not change.
