Baku counter-terrorism measures
The ministry specified that its aim is to ensure the provisions of the tripartite declaration and the disarmament and withdrawal of the Armenian army from the territory. Azerbaijan on 19 September announced the launch of "anti-terrorist measures of a local nature" in Nagorno-Karabakh. The country's defence ministry said it intended to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the 9 November 2020 trilateral declaration by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia and to suppress "large-scale provocations in the Karabakh economic region". Baku intends to ensure the "restoration of the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and the safety of the civilian population, civil servants and Azerbaijani military personnel.
According to the Azerbaijani ministry, the aim of the measures is to disarm and withdraw the Armenian army from the territory and neutralise its military infrastructure. The Azerbaijani armed forces are destroying the positions of the Armenian formations, their long-term firing positions, as well as military means and military installations. Civilian forces are not targeted, Baku clarified, refuting information from the Armenian segment of social networks.
The Azerbaijani defence ministry also specified that it had informed the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent and the leadership of the Turkish-Russian monitoring centre of its plans. In addition, the head of the department, Zakir Hasanov, informed his Turkish counterpart Yashar Guler about the situation. Guler, in turn, assured that Turkey "is still close to Azerbaijan today".
Later, Hikmet Hajiyev, adviser to the Azerbaijani president, said that the main tasks were close to being completed - "military targets have already been neutralised", and the operation would continue point by point, on a more limited scale.
According to Hajiyev, the current leadership of the unrecognised unit should be deposed and the Armenian army disarmed. At the same time, Azerbaijan is ready to meet with representatives of the Armenian population of Karabakh.
Situation on site
Baku reported that the Armenian army was shelling with artillery units the positions of the Azerbaijani army deployed in the direction of Agdam district. Azerbaijani armed forces units are retaliating.
The situation on the Azerbaijani border is under control and any provocations will be adequately responded to, the State Border Service of the Republic said.
Azerbaijan has created humanitarian corridors and reception points on the Lachin road and in other directions for the evacuation of the population from the danger zone in Nagorno-Karabakh. Civilians have been urged to stay away from military installations.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence announced the destruction of a P-18 radar station of the Armenian Armed Forces in the direction of Khojavand district.
Armenian reaction
Yerevan declared that Armenian armed forces are not present in Nagorno-Karabakh, while "Azerbaijani official news and media continue to make false claims" to the contrary. And according to the Armenian Ministry of Defence, as of 14:00 (13:00 Moscow time) the situation on the country's borders is relatively stable.
Armenia believes that "Azerbaijan has unleashed another large-scale aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and is trying to complete its policy of ethnic cleansing".
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan convened a meeting of the Security Council to discuss the situation. He said that the situation on the Armenian border is stable and Yerevan does not intend to take hasty steps. Pashinyan also said that Russian peacekeepers should respond to the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pashinyan has already discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and French President Emmanuel Macron.
A protest is held in front of the Armenian government building in central Yerevan. Around 500 people have gathered in the square; the protesters accuse the country's leadership and Pashinyan personally that their policies have led to the current situation in Karabakh. There were clashes between police and protesters. The Armenian Ministry of Interior called on protesters outside the government building to refrain from illegal actions.
Statement by Russia
Russia is deeply concerned by the sharp escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin was "genuinely concerned" about what was happening.
Moscow calls on the opposing sides to stop the bloodshed and return to a political and diplomatic settlement on the basis of a trilateral declaration by the heads of state - but taking into account the reality and Armenian recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Despite the escalation of the situation, Russian peacekeepers continue to perform their functions. Russia expects that the security of the peacekeeping contingent "will be unconditionally ensured by all parties". However, Zakharova denied information that the Azerbaijani side had allegedly warned Russian peacekeepers in advance of today's "anti-terrorist operation" . "This does not correspond to reality. The information was given to the Russian contingent a few minutes before the start of combat operations," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
As Zakharova noted, Russia also maintains contacts with Azerbaijan on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The ministry will issue a statement on the results of these contacts, she said.
Peskov noted that Moscow is in contact with Baku and Yerevan - so far along military lines. Talks at higher levels are not ruled out.
The challenge of Nagorno-Karabakh
The unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) called on Azerbaijan to stop hostilities and come to the negotiating table.
According to the NKR Ministry of Health, five civilians were killed and 80 injured (15 of them civilians).
International reactions
The European Union condemned the escalation of the situation and called on Azerbaijan to stop military action. Some countries of the Community, such as Germany, have made the same call.
France calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Paris is consulting with its European partners and the US "to ensure a response commensurate with the security risks to the region posed by Azerbaijan's unacceptable offensive".
(TASS/JaV)
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