Units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces again resorted to aggressive actions trying to advance in the direction of the eastern borderline of Artsakh. MoD of Artsakh

On March 26, at around 11 AM, the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces again resorted to aggressive actions, through the use of firearms of various calibers trying to advance in the direction of the eastern borderline of the Artsakh Republic, in the area under the responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops. Defense Army units take adequate measures to stop the enemy's advance. Steps are being taken with the Russian peacekeeping command staff to find ways to resolve the situation, Press Service of the Artsakh Republic Defense Ministry reports.

The statement issued by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan about the attempts of subversive actions by the Defense Army units of the Artsakh Republic is absolute disinformation, which pursues a primitive goal of concealing its own provocations, Press service of the Artsakh Republic Defense Ministry reports.

On March 26, the Azerbaijani armed forces, after invading the village of Parukh in the Askeran region, continued their movements and hostile actions in the area of ​​responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops in different directions of the Karaglukh height, NKR InfoCenter reports. Necessary restraining actions were taken by the Armed Forces of the Artsakh Republic in order to stop the advance of the enemy. In the result of repetitive skirmish, the subversive actions of the enemy were stopped.

France expressed concern over the Azerbaijani military advance in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“France expresses regret over the recorded incidents in Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly the armed incidents and the troop advance in Parukh and Khramort regions. France calls on the forces, which, as reported, have advanced, to pull back to their initial positions in accordance to the November 9, 2020 ceasefire statement,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The French Foreign Ministry also expressed concern over the gas supply cut-off in Nagorno-Karabakh, demanding the restoration of the supply. It said that this issue has been noted during the French Foreign Minister’s phone calls with Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts.

The United States is deeply concerned about Azerbaijan troop movements, the US State Department said.

“…..we are closely monitoring the situation along the line of contact established following the November 2020 ceasefire. The United States is deeply concerned about Azerbaijan troop movements. Troop movements and other escalatory measures are irresponsible and unnecessarily provocative,” US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said at a press briefing when asked by a reporter about the situation. “And to your question on the phone call between our Assistant Secretary Karen Donfried, I can confirm that our assistant secretary did speak with both the Armenian and – Armenian foreign minister and the Azerbaijani foreign minister on March 24th, and she just reiterated what Secretary Blinken told the Prime Minister Pashinyan as well as President Aliyev on March 21st and 22nd, which was calling both sides to show restraint and intensify diplomatic engagement to find comprehensive solutions to all of the outstanding issues. Armenia and Azerbaijan just need to use direct communication channels to immediately de-escalate.

From the noon of March 25 to the morning of March 26, the situation along the Artsakh line of contact did not change, no positional changes took place either. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces continue to remain in the village of Parukh and on one side of the adjacent Karaglukh height. A little earlier, they made an unsuccessful attempt to attack one of our subdivisions in this area, State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan informs.

"The Artsakh Armed Forces are taking appropriate precautionary and containment measures to neutralize possible threats. We had 3 victims and 15 wounded from the Azerbaijani UAV strikes the other day, the Azerbaijani side had significant losses too. Yesterday I visited the village of Khramort, where the situation was relatively calm and the mood was due. Strongholds of Russian peacekeepers continue to operate in Parukh and Khramort, and the Russian side has exerted significant efforts to ensure a ceasefire regime in its zone of responsibility. We hope that due to Russian efforts, the Azerbaijani troops will be withdrawn to their original positions and will no longer encroach on the security of the people of Artsakh and the guarantees of the Russian Federation.

The Security Council of the Artsakh Republic addressed an official letter to Vladimir Putin

The Security Council of the Artsakh Republic addressed an official letter to the Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, Central Information Department of the Artsakh Republic President’s Office reports.

"At the March 25 sitting of the Security Council chaired by President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan, a decision was made to address an official letter to President of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Security Council Vladimir Putin, proceeding from the military-political situation in the Artsakh Republic and the provisions of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020.

The letter, first of all, referred to the fact that since the day of the deployment of Russian peacekeeping troops in Artsakh, in general, the military staff has acted with high efficiency and fulfilled the tasks set. Many problems created by the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan were resolved with the direct, rapid and effective involvement of the contingent, due to which Artsakh started to overcome the consequences of the war. However, since March 8, 2022, the Azerbaijani side has been carrying out humanitarian, psychological and then military aggression with great intensity.

The letter details the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan launched against the civilian population of Artsakh since the beginning of March, including the military invasion of the village of Parukh and the adjacent areas, and presents a number of proposals.

"The Security Council of the Artsakh Republic has decided to address to you, asking you to take measures to comply with the provisions of the Statement adopted on November 9, 2020 by the Azerbaijani leadership. The people of Artsakh need security conditions to live in our historical land and to heal the wounds of war. However, as was presented, Azerbaijan's offensive actions do not allow a peaceful daily life, so we believe that additional security measures are needed.

Thereof, we consider that the current number of peacekeeping personnel and technical means provided by the provisions of the Statement is insufficient for the full implementation of the peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, taking into account the nature of the growing and expanding military aspirations of Azerbaijan. We ask you, in addition to curbing the current aggression of Azerbaijan and returning the Azerbaijani armed forces to their original positions, to review the current number of Russian peacekeepers and technical means serving them and, accordingly, increase the quantity of the military personnel and military equipment.

It should be added that the Artsakh authorities have established constructive working relations with the peacekeeping troops, and we are ready to provide the staff of the contingent with the necessary living conditions. The construction works to be carried out for that purpose have already commenced."

President Harutyunyan signed a decree on temporary restrictions on rights and freedoms in the state of martial law, Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic President reports.

On March 26, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan signed a decree on temporary restrictions on rights and freedoms in the state of martial law declared in the territory of the Artsakh Republic.Pursuant to the decree, during the term of martial law declared in the territory of the Artsakh Republic, under the statutory procedure:

1. the right to freedom of assembly is restricted;

2. strikes and other arrangements terminating or suspending the activities of organizations are prohibited;

3. activities of organizations, engaged in propaganda or other actions spearheaded against the defense capacity and security of the Artsakh Republic are suspended.

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