Azeri Press Agency
March 25, 2023

Responsibility for a possible conflict lies with Armenia and Russian peacekeepers

Issuing a press release, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan (MoD) states that the transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia for illegal Armenian armed detachments in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping forces are temporarily deployed, has intensified in recent days.

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The MoD noted that over the past few days, the intensification of unlawful construction and improvement work done by Armenians on the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu road and Khankendi-Kosalar-Mirzalar-Turshsu road passing to the north of the mentioned route was recorded by the Azerbaijan Army’s technical surveillance means….

[C]ontrol measures were taken by the Azerbaijan Army Units to suppress the use of dirt roads north of the Lachin road….

In another press release, the Ministry noted that members of an illegal Armenian armed detachment in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, under the guise of agricultural work, attempted to excavate in the direction of the Yukhari Veysalli settlement of the Fuzuli region….The work was immediately stopped as a result of the urgent measures taken by the Azerbaijan Army Units.

[The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan said] it is clear that the road construction in Azerbaijan is not only carried out in the territory under the control of the Russian peacekeepers but also with the direct support of the “peacekeepers”.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly warned at the highest level that it does not intend to turn a blind eye to the secret transportation of weapons, ammunition, and manpower from Armenia to its sovereign territories, and has also informed the Russian peacekeepers in the region….

[T]he Azerbaijani Army was forced to take control of the roads….One of the reasons for this is…that the Russian peacekeepers, who actually took over the temporary control of the region and should perform the functions stipulated in the Tripartite Declaration, did not perform their activities.

It is now possible to say with certainty that the Russian peacekeepers have abandoned their duties and taken the path of supporting and patronizing terrorists. This means that they do not want peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a one-time solution to the issue. It is as if the Russian peacekeepers were given the task of creating instability in the region, preventing direct contact and reintegration process between the Armenian population of Karabakh and Baku.

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[T]he Azerbaijani Army had to take control of alternative ways, as well as take necessary steps for others.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly declared that the next revanchist action of the Armenian side will not be allowed and will not be tolerated. Therefore, the responsibility for any conflict that may occur falls on both Armenia and Russian peacekeepers who support terrorists and separatists.