Kremlin Regrets About Civilian Casualties in Nagorno-Karabakh Amid Ongoing Escalation
18:51 19.09.2023 (Updated: 18:52 19.09.2023)
© Sputnik . Sergey Pyatakov
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Earlier in the day, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that Baku had launched local "anti-terrorist activities" in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region to "restore the constitutional order."
The Kremlin regrets about civilian casualties in Nagorno-Karabakh after resumption of hostilities on Tuesday, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“Hard work is underway now, the main thing is to ensure the safety of people in Karabakh and prevent casualties. We learn with regret the news that there are already such casualties," Peskov told reporters, adding that hostilities is a serious challenge for civilians.
Peskov said that he cannot confirm if Azerbaijan notified Russia about its decision to launch a military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh beforehand.
"I cannot confirm that we were notified in advance," Peskov told reporters.
The spokesman also said that the Kremlin is unaware of any threats to Russian peacekeepers in the region, adding that the issue is “among priorities” in the current situation.
“As for increasing our contingent of peacekeepers, this decision is first of all formulated by our military, and, of course, this is subject to agreement with all countries,” Peskov said.
Furthermore, Russia calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to adhere to trilateral agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh.
“The only substantive basis is the trilateral documents of two and three years ago, which were signed between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, so we urge everyone to follow the provisions of these documents and, naturally, taking into account those new realities, this means the fact of recognition by the Armenian side of the territory of Azerbaijan as of 1991,” Peskov told reporters.
The spokesman added that the opportunity to reach a political and diplomatic solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still “exists.”
“The main thing is to convince, convince both Yerevan and Baku to abandon use of force and sit down at the negotiating table,” Peskov said.
Peskov went on to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not have any contacts after Pashinyan's letter regarding the overall situation in the region.
Earlier in September, Putin said that he received a letter from Pashinyan, and that Russia has no problems with Armenia.
"Indeed, there was a detailed letter stating the point of view of the Armenian side to what is happening. At that time, there was actually... work on resuming the delivery of humanitarian aid to Karabakh. And to our satisfaction, as of yesterday, this work was successful. The first batch went in two directions through the Aghdam and Lachin roads, but unfortunately this did not prevent the resumption of hostilities. There have been no other contacts since then," Peskov said in response to a question about whether there were any other contacts between Putin and Pashinyan besides the letter sent earlier by the Armenian politician.
Foreign Ministry: Moscow Alarmed by Situation Escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh
Moscow is alarmed by the escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and calls on the parties to return to a diplomatic settlement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing.
“We are deeply alarmed by the sharp escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. There are reports of the Azerbaijani armed forces starting, as Baku claims, anti-terrorist measures in the region and the response actions of local Armenian armed formations. The Russian side urges the conflicting parties to stop the bloodshed, immediately cease hostilities and return to the path to a political and diplomatic settlement," Zakharova said at a briefing.
She also noted that “all steps for a peaceful solution to the Karabakh problem are spelled out in a set of trilateral statements by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which were adopted in the period from 2020 to 2022.”
She went on to say that Russian peacekeepers will continue to carry out their tasks against the background of the “anti-terrorist measures” carried out by Baku; Moscow hopes that their safety will be ensured by all parties.
Zakharova added that the command of the Russian peacekeepers is in "constant contact with representatives of the Armenians of Karabakh and the Azerbaijani authorities with the aim of a ceasefire and a return to the implementation of the mentioned trilateral agreements at the highest level.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the country's peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh recorded numerous ceasefire violations from the Azerbaijani side along the entire line of contact.
“From 12:00 [08:00 am GMT] on September 19, 2023, the Russian peacekeeping contingent has recorded numerous facts of ceasefire violations from the Azerbaijani side along the entire line of contact,” the ministry said in a statement, and called on sides of the conflict to halt use of force and engage in a dialogue.
The peacekeepers also organized evacuation of civilians from most dangerous areas and provision of medical care to victims, the ministry added.
The Kremlin earlier in the day stated that the Russian military is in contact with the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides, and contacts at the highest level are also possible.
"First of all, contacts are now being carried out through our military, through other departments. Communication at a higher level is also consistent. As soon as final agreements are reached, we will inform you immediately, including about possible contacts at the highest level," Peskov said commenting on whether contacts with Baku and Yerevan are planned in the coming hours.
The Russian military is trying to return the process in Nagorno-Karabakh to a political and diplomatic track, the spokesman said.
"Of course, our military is now working to return the settlement process to the political and diplomatic track, for this the only substantive basis are the trilateral documents of two and three years ago," Peskov said.
At the end of September 2020, hostilities resumed in Nagorno-Karabakh, continuing a long-term conflict.
On November 10 that year, Azerbaijan and Armenia, through the mediation of Moscow, agreed to full cease fire, remaining in occupied positions, and exchange prisoners and bodies of the dead. In addition, the Kelbajar and Lachin regions, as well as part of the Agdam region, which were previously under the control of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and were not occupied by the Azerbaijani army during the hostilities, were transferred to Baku.
Russian peacekeepers are stationed in the region, including the Lachin corridor. Last year, Yerevan and Baku, through the mediation of Russia, the United States and the European Union, began discussing a future peace treaty.
At the end of May this year, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Yerevan is ready to recognize the sovereignty of Azerbaijan within Soviet borders, that is, together with Karabakh.
In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that the Armenian leadership had essentially recognized Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Karabakh. As Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev said, Azerbaijan and Armenia may sign a peace treaty before the end of the year if Yerevan does not change its position.
