The incursion of Azerbaijani units into Nagorno-Karabakh in the area of ​​responsibility of the Russian Federation’s peacekeeping contingent is ongoing

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia states with satisfaction that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries have delivered a clear assessment of the last escalation of the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, acknowledging that it is a consequence of the movement of Azerbaijani troops. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation stated that it urged the Azerbaijani side to withdraw its armed units. On March 27, the Russian Defence Ministry issued a press-release stating that the Azerbaijani side had withdrawn its units from the Parukh settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nevertheless, we are compelled to note that the incursion of Azerbaijani units into Nagorno-Karabakh in the area of ​​responsibility of the Russian Federation’s peacekeeping contingent is ongoing, as shown in the attached maps. We expect that the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation in Nagorno Karabakh will take concrete measures to stem the incursion of Azerbaijani units into the area of peacekeepers’ ​​responsibility and to withdraw the Azerbaijani armed forces. We consider it important to conduct a proper investigation into the actions of the peacekeeping contingent during this entire period of the incursion of Azerbaijani units, and answer a number of questions.

Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia considers it necessary for all parties to observe the previously reached agreements over Nagorno Karabakh, and the question about the possibility of sending an additional contingent of peacekeepers amid growing tensions in the region must be addressed to the Russian defense ministry. 

“That question must be addressed to our military. They are in contact with the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides. Now the main thing is to ensure that all sides continue implementing the terms of the respective agreements”, the Kremlin spokesperson said.  

Later Russian Defense Ministry reported that as of March 28, no violations were registered of the ceasefire regime in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh.

FM Mirzoyan receives Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE MG, Ambassadors of Russia, France, U.S. and Director-General of International Commission on Missing

On March 28, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia reports. During the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan and Sergey Kopyrkin discussed the situation in the area of responsibility of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation, near the village of Parukh in Nagorno-Karabakh, as a result of the invasion of the Azerbaijani armed forces that began on March 24. The Minister stressed the adoption by the Russian peacekeeping contingent of concrete measures to stop the invasion of Azerbaijani units into the area of responsibility of peacekeepers and the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot. The discussion focused on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the invasion of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Ararat Mirzoyan considered unacceptable the provocations and aggressive actions of Azerbaijan against the peaceful population of Nagorno-Karabakh, attempts to deliberately disrupt the normal operation of vital infrastructures. Minister Mirzoyan stressed the importance of a proper and targeted reaction of the international community to the current situation, aimed at the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and de-escalation of the situation.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy. During the meeting the sides touched upon the situation that has developed as a result of the invasion of the Azerbaijani armed forces units in the village of Parukh of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as provocations of Azerbaijan against the peaceful population of Artsakh and the deliberate disruption of the normal operation of vital infrastructures. Assessing the US assessments of Azerbaijan's aggressive actions, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the need for effective steps towards de-escalation of the situation, noted the importance of consistent addressing of the problem by the international community.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons Kathryne Bomberger. The interlocutors commended the effective cooperation established between the relevant state institutions of Armenia and the Commission. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan expressed gratitude to Kathryne Bomberger for her contribution to the process of DNA identification of the remains of the Armenian victims of the 44-day war.

The sides discussed the prospects of expanding and deepening the cooperation, including in terms of technical equipment of relevant laboratories in Armenia and increasing their capacity. The Foreign Minister noted that Armenia greatly emphasizes the need for clarification of the fate of the missing persons resulting from the war, as well as the circumstances of their disappearance, highlighting the prospects of cooperation with the Commission in this regard. Ararat Mirzoyan presented to his interlocutor the humanitarian consequences of Azerbaijan's military aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, particularly, emphasizing the need for immediate repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages illegally held in Azerbaijan. The Foreign Minister of Armenia also presented the situation resulting from the incursion of the Azerbaijani armed forces into Parukh village of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received the Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovaev. The sides discussed the situation resulting from Azerbaijan’s violation of the line of contact with Nagorno-Karabakh and the incursion near the village of Parukh in the area of responsibility of the Russian Federation peacekeeping contingent, which started on March 24. They touched upon other actions of the Azerbaijani side aimed at creating a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, targeting the civilian population and subjecting them to ethnic cleansing. The need for the return of the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces to their starting positions of March 23 was stressed. Minister Mirzoyan presented the position of the Armenian side on launching negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a peace agreement within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. The importance of the full-fledged work of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship was reaffirmed.

Armenia offers Azerbaijan to immediately start negotiations on a comprehensive peace treaty. Security Council of Armenia issues statement

The security situation around Nagorno Karabakh was discussed at today's sitting of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, assessing it as extremely tense.

The analysis of the situation shows that the Republic of Azerbaijan, trying to find imaginary justifications, is paving the way for new provocations and attacks in the direction of Nagorno Karabakh, including accusing the Republic of Armenia of un-constructive actions in the issue of the peace treaty.

In the current situation, the Security Council considers it necessary to reaffirm the earlier position of the Republic of Armenia and offers the Republic of Azerbaijan to immediately start negotiations on a comprehensive peace treaty.

The Security Council, drawing the attention of the international community on the chances for armed clashes in Nagorno Karabakh and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, considers it necessary to launch international containment mechanisms to prevent further military escalation and ethnic cleansing in the region.

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