After a day of intense shelling from Azerbaijan, the authorities of the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh accepted the ceasefire proposal transmitted through Russian peacekeeping forces this Wednesday (20). The information was released by the information center of the separatist region’s administration in a statement.
In the statement, Karabakh representatives acknowledged that Azerbaijani troops had taken control of Armenian combat positions and a number of strategic centers.
With this, the authorities in Nagorno-Krabakh reported that they “accept the proposal of the command of the Russian peacekeeping mission regarding a ceasefire.”
The ceasefire agreements stipulate that hostilities should end at 1 pm (local time) on September 20. The declaration also refers to the complete disarmament of Armenian forces and the withdrawal of heavy equipment from the region.
Azerbaijan’s military operation last Tuesday (19) represented the breaking of a ceasefire signed in November 2020 following a trilateral agreement involving Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. According to local authorities, the Azerbaijani operation resulted in around 100 deaths.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region is a separatist enclave with an Armenian majority that has claimed independence from Azerbaijan since 1994. Russia has peacekeepers in the territory.
The issue of reintegration and guaranteeing the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will be discussed at a meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani representatives in the city of Yevlakh on September 21.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry stated that Yerevan supports Karabakh’s position on a ceasefire. The country’s diplomats also stated in a statement that an “international mechanism” is needed to regulate relations between the Armenians of Karabakh and Baku.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, stated that he is in constant contact with the authorities of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, and hopes to be able to transfer the situation in a peaceful direction.
“Our peacekeepers are working very actively with all parties involved in this conflict, doing everything to protect civilians,” he said.
Editing: Thales Schmidt
