Summary of the events

On the evening of August 3, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that members of Armenian armed formations in Karabakh, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed, grossly violated the provisions of the Statement of November 10, 2020, and committed a terrorist and sabotage act against the Azerbaijan Army Units on August 3. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated that as a result of the “Revenge” retaliatory operation conducted by the Azerbaijan Army Units, the Girkhgiz high ground, including Saribaba, and several advantageous high grounds along the Karabakh range of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains were taken under control. Currently, Azerbaijan Army Units are carrying out engineering work on the establishment of new positions and laying supply roads on advantageous frontiers.

On the same day, the de-facto Defense Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh reported that two de-facto Defense Army servicemen were killed, and nineteen servicemen were injured. Furthermore, Arayik Harutyunyan, the de-facto President of Nagorno-Karabakh, signed a decree, according to which a partial military mobilization was declared in the republic from August 3, 2022.

International reactions

Ned Price, US State Department Spokesman, called on the parties to immediately take necessary steps to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation of military operations. He added that the increase in tension overshadows all the work done in the direction of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including the negotiation process.

In its statement, the European Union calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities unfolding between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces around the Lachin corridor and other places along the line of contact. "It is imperative to reduce tensions, fully respect the ceasefire and return to the negotiating table to find solutions through negotiations," the statement added. The EU confirmed its commitment to continue its participation in ensuring sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

The CSTO Secretariat is also concerned about information regarding the armed clashes that led to human casualties. "I express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the killed soldiers. We call on the parties to refrain from the use of force and to use diplomatic methods to overcome existing disagreements," the Secretary of the CSTO Stanislav Zas stated.

On August 4, the Kremlin also expressed concern about the escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. "We are watching very carefully. Of course, we are concerned about the escalation of the situation [in Nagorno-Karabakh]. We call on the parties to exercise restraint," said Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the Russian President. "The main issue is the implementation of all clauses of the known tripartite documents," Peskov added.

On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at an operational meeting with members of the Security Council, discussed the situation related to the aggravation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. The participants exchanged views before Putin's meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Also, the Kremlin stated that it is possible to clarify Armenia's questions regarding the activities of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh based on dialogue. Dmitry Peskov commented on the words of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding the participation and activities of Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh at the request of journalists: "There are tripartite documents that are the starting point. The main issue is the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken by the parties under those documents. If there are questions, of course, they need to be answered. At the same time, our close contacts with the Armenian side at various levels will create conditions for clarifying existing issues."

Moreover, on August 2, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, spoke about the recent clashes. "Russia is actively involved in preparing the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty," she said. "Igor Khovaev, the Russian Foreign Minister's Special Representative for normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is having regular consultations with the sides to find points of contact, to reach mutually acceptable basic principles and parameters of a future peace agreement," she said.

Reaction from Armenia

Several MPs from the ruling Civil Contract party called on Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh to take measures to prevent the escalation of the situation and ensure peace in the region. In particular, Vahagn Aleksanyan, an MP from the Civil Contract faction in the National Assembly, noted that clear and definite actions of the Russian peacekeeping mission should be expected to prevent further escalation of the situation and eliminate tensions and this is the duty and responsibility of the Russian side.

Rustam Bakoyan, another MP from the Civil Contract, said that the Russian peacekeepers must take explicit actions to ensure peace and stability in their area of ​​responsibility.

Hripsime Grigoryan stated that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces continue military operations in the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers, which is not only a gross violation of the tripartite statement but also direct disrespect for all its parties.

Moreover, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that the armed forces of Azerbaijan, once again violating the November 9, 2020, Trilateral Statement of the leaders of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan on the cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, launched aggression in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, resulting in casualties and wounded ones. The Ministry added: "We consider unacceptable the statements of the Azerbaijani side attempting to unilaterally change the legal regime in the Lachin Corridor defined by provision 6 of the Trilateral Statement and reaffirm that the road passing through the Lachin Corridor can be changed only according to the plan approved by the parties to the Statement."

Reaction from Azerbaijan

According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the bloody incident that took place on August 3 once again demonstrates that Armenia grossly violated the tripartite agreement and, at the same time, undermined efforts toward the normalization of relations between the two states. Furthermore, in another statement, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated:

"Accusations shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia against Azerbaijan in violation of the trilateral statement are nothing but mere hypocrisy. We remind that Azerbaijan has repeatedly reported Armenia's failure to fulfill the provisions of the statement dated November 10, 2020, signed by the three countries' leaders. In particular, the Armenian armed units have not yet been withdrawn from the sovereign territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Article 4 of the trilateral statement reads: "the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation shall be deployed in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces." In addition to numerous pieces of evidence on the Azerbaijani side about the presence of illegal Armenian armed forces on the territory of Azerbaijan, this fact has also been acknowledged by Armenian officials. Thus, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Sahak Sahakyan, on June 29, 2022, at a meeting with the parents of the recruits from Armenia, stated: "Armenian conscripts in the Karabakh region will be replaced by servicemen of active military service," as well as the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan in an interview dated July 19, 2022, reminded that "the withdrawal of the units of the Armed Forces of Armenia from Karabakh will be completed by September of this year ."Both statements contradict the obligations assumed by Armenia, and it clearly demonstrates that Armenia still illegally deploys its armed military formations on the territory of a neighboring state," the statement added.

"Referring to Article 6 of the trilateral statement, we bring to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, which accuses Azerbaijan of violating the relevant provision, that the construction of a new road along the Lachin corridor has been going on for many months along the agreed route, and the Armenian side was and is duly informed about the developments. If the Armenian side aims to delay the implementation of this obligation, as well as other provisions of the trilateral statement using fake excuses, this will once again demonstrate Armenia's non-constructive and disruptive activity vis-a-vis its obligations stipulated in the trilateral statements and other agreements," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated.

United States mediation attempts

On August 4, during a telephone conversation with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Turkish Foreign Minister, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken discussed several issues, including Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the Press Service of the State Department, Blinken confirmed the readiness of the United States to promote dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan and achieve a long-term political settlement of the conflict on a bilateral basis with like-minded partners, and as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Moreover, on August 1, Karen Donfried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs of the United States of America, had a telephone conversation with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the parties discussed the current state of the process of normalization of post-conflict relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the tripartite statements signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia, as well as bilateral meetings between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia with the mediation of the President of the Council of the European Union, Charles Michel. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov brought to the attention of the other side the well-known position of Azerbaijan regarding the need to ensure peace and progress in the region, including the opening of transport and communications, the delimitation of the border of the two states, and the need to start work on the future peace treaty. The Press Service informs that during the telephone conversation, the next steps in the process of normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia, issues on the regional agenda, as well as other topics of mutual interest were discussed.

According to the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, during the telephone conversation, views were exchanged regarding the current security environment in the region. The settlement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, were discussed. "The parties concerned with the solution of the humanitarian problems caused by the 44-day war stressed the importance of the immediate release of the Armenian prisoners of war and other prisoners," the information stated.