Recent Tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh: Russia Accuses Azerbaijan; Kremlin Faces Backlash from Baku

8 Mar 2023 | News, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Summary of events

On March 6, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that from 15:00 [local time] on March 5 to 03:10 on March 6, Azerbaijan Army positions were fired upon 19 times. Moreover, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported two dead and two wounded soldiers as a result of the clash with the Armenian side. On March 6, the Armenian Defense Ministry reported that the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan had spread disinformation, claiming that units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire towards the Azerbaijani combat positions located in the Eastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border zone overnight on March 5 and 6.

Russia blames Azerbaijan for recent tensions in the region

On March 6, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that at 10:00 on March 5, 2023, in the area of the settlement of Dükanlar/Dyukyanlar, service members of the armed forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan fired at a car with law enforcement officers of [the separatist] Nagorno-Karabakh. As a result of the clash, three people were killed, and one employee in the car was injured. "On the Azerbaijani side, the losses were: two dead, one wounded. Through the efforts of Russian peacekeepers, the clash was stopped," the report added.

"On this fact, the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, together with the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides, is conducting an investigation," it said. "Patrols were carried out along three routes in the Mardakert [Aghdara in Azerbaijani], Martuni [Khojavend in Azerbaijani] regions, and the Lachin corridor. The convoy of the Russian peacekeeping contingent with humanitarian cargo was escorted along the route GORIS - STEPANAKERT," the information stated.

Response from Azerbaijan

On the same day, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated, "We regretfully note that on March 6, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation distorted the facts and spread untruthful information in its bulletin regarding the armed incident that took place yesterday on the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu dirt road."

"We inform that on March 5, based on operative information, the Azerbaijan Army Units attempted to stop and inspect the vehicle of the Armenian military formations transporting illegal military supplies. While approaching the vehicle, Azerbaijani service members were subjected to fire from weapons by the members of the Armenian armed detachment inside the vehicle, resulting in two service members becoming Shaheeds (Martyrs), and one was wounded. Three members of the illegal Armenian detachment were killed, and one was wounded by the return fire. It is hypocritical to present these service members, fully equipped with weapons and ammunition, as police officers performing a 'passport and visa' service," the information added.

The ministry added: "The spread of information about providing first aid by representatives of the Russian peacekeeping forces and the evacuation of Azerbaijani service members who were injured as a result of the incident is also not true. The evacuation of Azerbaijan Army's Shaheeds (Martyrs) and wounded service members from the territory was carried out by its service members."

"We warn once again that the transportation of military cargo by Armenia to the territory of Azerbaijan, the dispatch and rotation of the Armenian armed forces' military personnel must be stopped immediately and permanently, and that the Armenian troops must be completely withdrawn from the territory of our country. Otherwise, the Azerbaijani side will have to take decisive and necessary measures by using all possibilities to disarm and neutralize illegal gunmen," the information expressed.

Azerbaijan pushes de-facto government of Nagorno-Karabakh

According to the information released on March 6 by the de-facto Press Service of the President of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian side does not accept the concept of integration presented by Azerbaijan.

"During the second meeting, the representative of Azerbaijan tried to discuss political issues using the word 'integration,' but this was prevented, and if political issues are discussed, it should be the topic of recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan," Arayik Harutyunyan, the de-facto President of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh.

Arayik Harutyunyan said that a long struggle awaits ahead of them. "Within the framework of this struggle, we must understand that such cases (armed incidents) will occur and take preventive measures. I discussed our problems with the Minister of State, and today, by the decision of the Security Council, I want to instruct the government to prepare a program for food and energy security because we need to calculate all scenarios," Harutyunyan added.

"Azerbaijan said that if Khankendi [Stepanakert in Armenian] does not accept Baku's integration policy, it will leave the current problems of Karabakh unresolved and take tougher and sharper steps," he added.

Azerbaijani side reveals new videos

The video and photo materials taken at noon on March 7 show the movement of a military convoy along the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turssu dirt road. According to the information obtained by Caliber.az, the military transport of the illegal armed groups of Armenia moves accompanied by the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

At the beginning of the convoy, 2 "UAZ Patriot" vehicles of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, followed by a "Ural" with a tent belonging to the illegal Armenian armed forces and a "KamAZ" with a water tank, and BTR-82A are moving at the end of the convoy. The Russian flag is raised on it.

The convoy is on its way to provide food, water, and ammunition to the posts of illegal Armenian armed groups.

International reaction

In the statement issued by Peter Stano, the Spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, it is said that the European Union deeply regrets the incident that caused the death of at least five people in Karabakh. "The EU calls on all interested parties to fully investigate the incident and to exercise restraint and prevent any further actions that could destabilize the region and threaten the peace process," the statement said.

In turn, Javier Colomina, the Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for the Caucasus and Central Asia, expressed his concern about the armed incident between the Azerbaijani service members and the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. "We are very concerned about the news about the fatal incident near Khankendi/Stepanakert. This incident demonstrates the importance of resolving unresolved issues at the negotiating table," Javier Colomina said on his Twitter page. Javier Colomina stressed that NATO supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, stated that Russia expresses serious concern about the increase in tension in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. "Repeated ceasefire violations have been recorded over the past few days. On March 5, an armed incident resulted in losses from both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides. We call on the parties to exercise restraint and take steps to reduce tensions. We reaffirm the need to strictly follow the provisions of the statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia dated November 9, 2020, on a complete ceasefire and all military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. Any issues related to ensuring security and stability in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent should be resolved peacefully through contact between the parties under the auspices of the Russian peacekeeping contingent," he noted.