As a result of the use of Bayraktar TB-2 strike UAVs by the enemy, 3 Armenian servicemen were killed. Artsakh Defense Army

On March 24, the units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, grossly violating the November 10 trilateral statement of 2020 invaded the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops in the Artsakh Republic, taking control of the village of Parukh of Askeran region and adjacent positions, and then tried to advance on the eastern border of the Artsakh Republic, Press service of the Artsakh Republic Defense Army reports. The hours-long negotiations held by the Russian peacekeeping troops and relevant structures of Artsakh did not have tangible effect, the enemy did not return to the starting positions. Moreover, the Azerbaijani military units opened fire on the Defense Army units using both firearms of various calibers and a strike UAV. At least 5 servicemen of the enemy were killed as a result of the skirmish. There is one wounded from the Armenian side.

NKR InforCenter reported that the authorities of the Artsakh Republic are in active dialogue with the command staff of the Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in the republic. No effort is spared for the Russian party to take relevant measures at all levels within its mission to return the Azeri troops that invaded the village of Parukh of Askeran region on March 24, to their starting positions. At the same time, the Artsakh Armed Forces are taking additional measures to ensure the security of nearby villages. We anticipate that as a result of the sustainable work, the Russian peacekeeping mission will be able to resolve the issues that have arisen in its sphere of control. After the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani troops, the civilian population will return to their homes with additional security guarantees."

As the Artsakh Republic Ministry of Defense has already reported, today, March 25, the Armenian side suffered 2 casualties and a number of servicemen were wounded (5 more servicemen were wounded last night) as a result of the attacks of Bayraktar UAV used by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Hence, Azerbaijan is grossly violating the provisions of the November 9 trilateral statement in the form of invasion and ceasefire violations, NKR InfoCenter reports.

"Despite the high-level talks, we note that the Russian peacekeeping force deployed in Artsakh managed only to stop the advance of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Parukh community of Askeran region at this stage, and firing from different caliber weapons. However, at the same time, we emphasize that the Russian peacekeeping forces have not been able to solve the main problem within their mission, as the Azerbaijani troops that invaded the village of Parukh of Askeran region and the adjacent areas on March 24, remain on the ground. The Artsakh authorities, however, hope that due to the decisive efforts of the Russian side, the Azeri troops will return to their starting positions, and the civilian population of Artsakh will be able to return to their homes, otherwise the security guarantees given to the civilian population in Artsakh are in serious doubt."

The Press Service of the Artsakh Republic Defense Ministry reports that on March 25, in the result of provocative actions of the enemy, in particular, the use of Bayraktar TB-2 strike UAVs, Defense Army servicemen David Mirzoyan (born in 1978), Ishkhan Ohanyan (born in 1994) and Ararat Tevosyan (born in 1990) were fatally wounded. The Defense Ministry of the Artsakh Republic shares the grief of the loss and expresses support to relatives and comrades-in-arms of the perished servicemen.

Armenian MFA has issued a statement, saying that Azerbaijan continues its infiltration into the area of responsibility of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation in Parukh village of Askeran region of Nagorno-Karabakh that started on March 24. The infiltrated units of the Azerbaijani armed forces attacked the bases of the Defense Army last night. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains tense․ We expect the peacekeeping force of the Russian Federation to undertake measures to ensure the immediate withdrawal of the infiltrated units of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, which should imply the return of the Azerbaijani armed forces to the starting position of March 23.

Gegham Stepanyan, the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, informed that in the Stepanakert Military Hospital, he got acquainted with the health condition of the people injured as a result of the March 25 criminal acts committed by Azerbaijan.

At this moment, according to the verified information, 14 people received various degrees of injuries. The condition of 10 people is assessed by doctors as mild, 1 - moderate, 1 - severe, the condition of 2 people is extremely severe. Almost all cases of injuries were registered due to the use of drones by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

Armenian PM and FM held telephone conversations about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The situation created after the invasion of Azerbaijani units into the responsibility zone of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation in Nagorno Karabakh was discussed, which Prime Minister Pashinyan assessed as tense. PM Pashinyan raised the need to investigate the actions of Russian peacekeepers in the given situation and stressed the need for returning the Azerbaijani armed forces to their initial positions with the efforts of the Russian peacekeepers. The leaders of the two countries agreed to make efforts to resolve the crisis situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried. The Foreign Minister of Armenia briefed on the situation created as a result of Azerbaijan's violation of the Nagorno Karabakh contact line and the infiltration to the Parukh village of Artsakh. The Minister stressed that Azerbaijan grossly violates its obligations of the Trilateral Statements, endangering regional stability and peace. Ararat Mirzoyan also touched upon the actions of Azerbaijan towards targeting civilian population and exerting psychological pressure, deliberately disrupting the normal operation of vital infrastructure in order to create a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh. Minister Mirzoyan stressed that the above-mentioned actions are vivid manifestations of Azerbaijan's policy of ethnic cleansing and Armenophobia. In this regard, the Minister stressed the need for a targeted and clear response from the international community, including the United States. Both sides highlighted the importance of undertaking steps aimed at de-escalation of the situation. During the phone conversation, the Foreign Minister of Armenia presented the position of the Armenian side regarding the launch of negotiations on the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

On March 25, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan touched upon the Azerbaijani invasion of the village of Parukh in Nagorno-Karabakh, which began on March 24 in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. The need for Azerbaijani units to return to their initial positions was stressed. Ararat Mirzoyan presented the position of the Armenian side on the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the peace treaty, emphasizing in this context the mediation role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned about reports of new hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson of the UN Secretary General, told journalists during briefing on Friday. "The Secretary-General urges the parties to refrain from any actions or statements that could aggravate the situation and to resolve all issues, including those of a humanitarian nature, through direct dialogue within the existing platforms," Dujarric said.

The U.S. is deeply concerned about gas disruptions and Azerbaijan’s troop movements, the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs posted on Twitter.

"Armenia and Azerbaijan need to use direct communications channels to immediately de-escalate."

Armenian MPs referred to the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

The Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Armenian Parliament Eduard Aghajanyan announced that the territories which went under Azerbaijani control as a result of the March 24-25 events were in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping forces. He said that they expect clear answers from Russian colleagues on how these events happened.

Speaking at a press conference, Aghajanyan emphasized that Azerbaijan is consistently carrying out a policy of depriving the Armenians of Artsakh from the right to live in their own homeland and that the latest events are yet another manifestation of ethnic cleansing against the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh which is happening since the conflict began.

“In the recent period, in the post-war period, this process took a unique and practical shape, about which the Armenian government has numerously alarmed and informed the international community. An assessment to this process was numerously given by the Armenian foreign ministry, the prime minister, and Members of Parliament, particularly the members of the foreign relations committee,” Aghajanyan said.

Aghajanyan accused Azerbaijan in again violating the November 9 trilateral agreement.

“In this given case it is the violation of the clause under which the sides are obliged to stop hostilities, remain in their positions, and Russian peacekeepers were to be deployed on that borderline, who were deployed,” he added.

Aghajanyan said the area where the events happened is in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers.

“Here our main question and work is with our Russian colleagues. We must understand under what circumstances this advance happened, because as a result of the advance the Azerbaijani military appeared in the rear of the Russian peacekeepers, meaning they bypassed them. I repeat, this, according to the respective clause of the November 9 trilateral statement, is the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers, therefore we expect to receive clear answers from our Russian colleagues on how this happened. We expect that this issue will be solved in the shortest period of time and that the Azerbaijani armed forces will return to their initial positions from where the advance took place,” Aghajanyan said.

Arman Yeghoyan, MP of the parliamentary faction "Civil Contract" wrote on Facebook:

"This situation reminds of the well-known events in December 2020 in Khtsaberd, which, according to the logic of the trilateral statement of November 9, was also the area of responsibility of peacekeepers. But so far we also have no answers to the actions or inaction of the peacekeepers in this area. At the moment, we can say that actions are more eloquent than words, because we don’t see that the peacekeeping contingent of Russia is carrying out operations to oust Azerbaijani units that have invaded its zone of responsibility."

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• Human Rights Defender of Armenia presented to Resident Representative of UNDP in Armenia current situation in Artsakh in connection with the provocations initiated by the Azerbaijani side

• Provocative actions of Azerbaijan endanger the regional stability and peace: Eduard Aghajanyan