Military developments

On 23 October, the de facto Defence Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh reported that the stable-tense situation in the conflict zone did not change, with artillery battles and skirmishes continuing in some areas. The de facto Ministry emphasised that the Azerbaijani Army fired at Askeran, and at midnight they re-targeted Martuni. The de facto State Emergency Service of Nagorno-Karabakh reported that the Azerbaijani Army used Grad multiple rocket launchers to shell the village of Karegagh in the Kashatagh region. It was also reported that  fierce battles on the outskirts of the villages of Shekher and Jivan of Martuni region were fought. 

The Azerbaijani MOD reported that the operations continued with varying intensity in the Aghdere, Fizuli-Hadrut-Jabrayil, and Gubadli directions. In addition, it was also reported that the Azerbaijani Army gained control of Dolanar and Bunyadli villages of Khojavend, Dag Tumas, Nusus, Xelefli, Minbashili and Veyselli villages of Jabrayil, Venedli and Mirzehasanli villages of Zengilan,  Zilanli, Kurd Mahrizli, Muganli and Alagurshag villages of Gubadli regions. 

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev announced that his country gained full control over the state border with Iran. Artsrun Hovhannisyan, spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, denied Aliyev’s statement.

Political developments

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the Karabakh conflict region is acceptable to Armenia. "The deployment of peacekeepers is acceptable to us. I can say that Azerbaijan's views on the composition of peacekeepers will not coincide with Armenia's views on this matter. If we talk about compromises, the presence of Russian peacekeepers can also become a compromise version. The Russian Federation has good relations either with Azerbaijan or with Armenia. It is very important to reckon with the views of other regional countries, it is important that specific peacekeeping forces stabilise the region, and not vice versa,” Pashinyan said in his interview with the Russian Interfax.  

Pashinyan also expressed hope that the temporary ban on the import of goods from Turkey will have a positive impact on the Armenian economy. “This is an important political decision. Our economy must respond to the destructive policies of Turkey,” he said. Asked if his government would ask for preferential Russian loans or lower prices for energy resources, Pashinyan noted that economic issues were discussed during Russian Prime Minister Mishustin’s visit to Yerevan in October. “Now we feel the support of Russia and I am sure that in the future we will feel that Russia will support us wherever possible,” he said.

In addition, Pashinyan emphasised that if the conflict continues, Armenia would turn to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with this problem, or maybe directly to Russia. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin emphasised that it was not right to talk about the intervention of the CSTO in the conflict. “No official request has been received from Armenia. CSTO assists member states in certain situations when there is open aggression. For now, the talk is about Nagorno-Karabakh, which was not recognised by those Armenians as their territory and probably cannot be recognised. It is not right to talk about the interference of the CSTO’s defence potential,” he stated.

The President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with the French President Emmanuel Macron. The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone was discussed at the meeting. 

The de facto President of Nagorno-Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, You are a person and leader with great personal authority in the world and our region. I ask you to do everything possible to end hostilities and resume political processes in the zone of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict,“ the letter stated.

At the meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin spoke on the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that the conflict began with an ethnic confrontation. “For us, both Armenia and Azerbaijan are equal partners. It is a great tragedy for us when people die there. We want to build full-fledged relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said. 

Putin noted that there are special elements that determine relationship building with countries. “With Armenia - Christianity. But we have very close ties with Azerbaijan in other areas. As for the religious component. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that almost 15% of Russia’s population are Muslims and even in this sense Azerbaijan is not a stranger country for us,” Putin said.

“For many, many years, we have proposed a variety of options for resolving this crisis in order to stabilise the situation for a long historical perspective, now I will not go into details. Believe me, it was hard work to bring the positions closer to each other. At some moments it seemed that just a little more, a little more, one step, and we will find a solution. Unfortunately, this did not happen and today we have a conflict in its worst version,” he added He also said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are striving for the situation around the Karabakh conflict to be settled, but no one is as interested in this as Russia.

Speaking on Turkey’s alleged involvement in the conflict. Putin stated the following: “For example, I understand that our positions [with Turkey] do not coincide with regard to the situation in the South Caucasus, because we believe that all the same, it is necessary to resolve controversial issues of this kind not by force, not by weapons, but in a diplomatic manner, at the negotiating table. Yes, of course you could say that negotiations have been going on for 30 years but [that there has been no result]. Well, this, in my opinion, does not mean that you need to start shooting.” 

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also spoke on the settlement of the conflict. “Azerbaijan makes its legitimate demand. It is impossible to put aside the demand of President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan says that if Armenia proposes Russia's participation in the settlement of this problem, then we propose to involve Turkey. As much as Russia wants peace and stability over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, so does Turkey,” he said while talking to the press. “There are no statements about Russia's negative attitude towards Turkey in this matter. Those who say yes, express their opinions. We have joint activities with Russia in both Syria and Libya. We hope that we will establish peace in the region by taking appropriate steps in the Azerbaijani-Armenian issue,” Erdogan concluded.