Nagorno-Karabakh ‘Interior Ministry’ accuses Azerbaijan of violating ceasefire agreement

The New Voice of Ukraine
·2 min read
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An Armenian soldier looks through binoculars at a combat position near the village of Tagavard in Karabakh, January 2021
An Armenian soldier looks through binoculars at a combat position near the village of Tagavard in Karabakh, January 2021

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Nagorno-Karabakh region has accused Azerbaijani military forces of breaching the ceasefire agreement and indiscriminately shelling the city of Stepanakert with various types of firearms, the Azerbaijani outlet NEWS.am reported on Sept. 21

"For safety reasons, we urge everyone to remain in shelters. We will monitor the situation," the ministry said.

Local resident Gayane Chalyan from Stepanakert told the publication that the city's residents are taking refuge in basements to shield themselves from the shelling. Those with vehicles are attempting to reach the airport area, where a Russian peacekeeping base is located.

Read also: Why Karabakh conflict erupted once again – NV analysis

"They say they entered the city, they are firing, and they are heading towards the 9th school, carrying a flag. They want to install it on the government building in Stepanakert," she said.

Earlier, representatives of Armenia's Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan began negotiations in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh regarding the reintegration and protection of Armenian rights in the region.

Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh – What's known

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense announced on Sept. 19 the start of "counter-terrorism measures" in Nagorno-Karabakh to "restore constitutional order."

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry referred to the events in Karabakh as "local counter-terrorism measures" in response to a "series of large-scale military provocations and acts of terrorism" by Armenian forces.

Armenia labeled Baku's actions as full-scale aggression and accused Azerbaijan of "ethnic cleansing." Protests erupted in Yerevan, calling on the government to intervene in the Karabakh situation.

Read also: In a betrayal of longstanding ally Armenia, Russia recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as Azerbaijan’s

The unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh region on Sept. 20 agreed to a ceasefire. Today, representatives of the local Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Azerbaijani authorities were to meet in Yevlakh to discuss the region's reintegration "within the framework of Azerbaijan's Constitution," as well as the rights and security of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan had "completed all tasks of the anti-terrorist operation" within a day and "restored sovereignty," stated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that he is was ready to recognize Azerbaijan's sovereignty overNagorno-Karabakh.

The heads of the foreign ministries of both countries reported that a peace agreement between the two countries could be possible by the end of 2023.

In mid-July, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Azerbaijan said that Moscow and Yerevan had not fulfilled their obligations under the tripartite agreement signed after the 2020 conflict.

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