Yesterday, a unit of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan tried to advance in the direction of one of the heights adjacent to the Stepanakert-Lisagor soil road. According to the Ministry of Defense of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), thanks to the preventive actions of the Defense Army soldiers on combat duty in that area, the advance attempt of the Azerbaijani unit was stopped.
Vladimir Harutyunyan (military expert) - Of course, the control of that road could be achieved by technical means in the past, but this latest armed advance indicates that Azerbaijan is not satisfied with this and is also trying to establish military control, thereby demonstrating its power and dictating its role as a ruler both towards the Russians and towards the Armenian armed forces. And it is clear that it will not be limited to this, because we know that any successful promotion will bring with it the opportunity to consolidate on the ground and further develop the promotion. Therefore, this scenario should be developed and the issues should be considered from this perspective as well.
RUSSIAN PEACE KEEPERS SHOULD TAKE CLEAR STEPS: EXPERT
Grossly violating the obligations assumed by the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, the Azerbaijani armed forces crossed the line of contact with the armed forces of Artsakh on March 25 and secured a certain positional advance in the territory of Artsakh, in the direction of the Stepanakert-Lisagor soil road. According to military expert Vladimir Harutyunyan, Azerbaijan also violated the February 22, 2022 Moscow declaration on allied cooperation.
Vladimir Harutyunyan - Where it is stated that the parties refrain from certain actions that will harm the reputation of the parties. And in this regard, since the actions were carried out in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers, immediate actions should follow.
Contrary to the decision of the International Court of Justice regarding the immediate unblocking of the Lachin Corridor connecting Artsakh to Armenia, Baku continues to tighten the noose around Artsakh. In order to defuse the situation, the Russian peacekeepers should take clear steps, says Harutyunyan.
Vladimir Harutyunyan - According to the Russian side, they climbed again and took control of that height, established control. But that control should not be just abstract words, but in order to fully dominate, one of the actual parties must be at that height. Naturally, to force the enemy to take up the exit positions, despite the recent cases, also the case of Parukh show that Azerbaijan aims to strengthen in those zones.
Civilians are also the targets of ongoing Azerbaijani aggression. On March 25, in Martakert region, Azerbaijani military positions fired irregular shots from rifles at citizens working in the garden.
