Military developments

On 28 October, the de facto Defence Ministry (MOD) of Nagorno-Karabakh reported that battles of local importance were going on in certain sectors. In addition, the de facto ministry emphasised that Martuni and the villages of the Askeran region succumbed to enemy fire. 

It was also highlighted that the capital of the region Stepanakert/ Khankendi and the city of Shusha succumbed to fire. In Shusha, it was reported that Smerch missiles were used, killing one civilian and wounding two others in the process. In Stepanakert/Khankendi it was reported that a maternity hospital was bombed. The Azerbaijani MOD stated that the maternity hospital bombing report hospital was an act of deliberate misinformation. Local media outlets pointed out that the hospital was not operable at the moment when it was allegedly bombed.

The Azerbaijani MOD reported that combat operations continued mainly on the Agdere, Khojavend, Fizuli, Zangilan and Gubadli directions of the front. In addition, it was underscored that the territories of the Goranboy and Terter regions succumbed to shelling attacks. It was also reported that the territories of Tovuz, Gadabay, Dashkesan, and Gubadli regions of Azerbaijan were fired upon from the territory of the Berd, Chambarak, Vardenis, and Gorus regions of Armenia. The Azerbaijani Army also gained control over Giyasli, Adilja and Gilijan villages of Gubadli,  Birinji Agali, Ikinji Agali, Uchunju Agali, Zarnali villages of Zengilan, Mandili village of Fuzuli and Gazanzami, Khanagabulag, Chullu, Gushchular, Garaagaj villages of Jabrayil in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General reported that the city of Barda succumbed to a heavy shelling attack, killing 21 civilians and wounding over 70 persons. The data on the number of victims and wounded among the Azerbaijani civilian population was also updated. According to information from the Prosecutor General, 69 people were killed and 322 were wounded and 2,338 private houses were damaged as a result of shelling by the Armenian armed forces. From the Armenian side, it was reported that 39 civilians were killed, 122 wounded. In terms of property damage, it was stated that 11 600 homes and apartments, 1600 private properties and 2,100 infrastructure, public and industrial facilities were destroyed and damaged during the conflict.

Political developments

Armenia's National Assembly approved in the second and final reading a set of amendments to the law on defence, which provide for the creation of militia. The amendments legislate the term “militia” as a system of citizens' participation on a voluntary basis in the defence of Armenia in the event of a military attack, the presence of such a threat or in conditions of hostilities. 

According to the amendments, the militia would act on a territorial basis and, in accordance with the administrative-territorial division of Armenia, will consist of military units, attached brigades and battalions. The militia will be led by the Chief of the General Staff through the special headquarters. The militia will be formed on a voluntary basis and from citizens who are not subject to mobilisation, who are not included in the lists of reservists or who are recognised as unfit for military service. 

In addition, the National Assembly amended the Criminal Code, which provided for tougher punishments for certain offences committed  in wartime. In particular, evasion from compulsory military service, training camps or mobilisation in wartime would be punished by a prison term of 6 to 12 years, instead of the previously stipulated 4 to 8 years. For those who evade their duties or payment of taxes during the wartime, the maximum punishment is from one to five years. The failure to carry out orders in wartime comes with a punishment of 8 to 15 years in prison. Also, desertion committed during martial law, war or in a combat situation is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 8 to 15 years instead of the previously established 6 to 12 years.

In an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev spoke on why Armenia has not recognised Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state, despite the hostilities going on for a month. “Blackmail by recognition once again speaks of the inconsistency and insincerity of the authorities of today’s Armenia, because, not recognising Nagorno-Karabakh themselves, they want other countries to do it,” he told journalists. 

Aliyev also said that if he was invited to Moscow to hold talks with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan he would be willing to go ‘without any preconditions.’ However, he added that he has great doubts that the current Armenian government is capable of constructive work on the settlement. Aliyev also stated that it would be necessary to think about some new mechanisms of regional cooperation between the countries of the region in order to practically reach a political settlement. He added that he would find it acceptable if the negotiations are in a ‘2+2’ format that features Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia and Turkey. 

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the details of the conversation between him and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. “I told Putin that if you want, let's put an end to the conflict together, let's solve this conflict together. Let you [Putin] talk with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and me with my brother, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Send your representatives. We should make a decision: whether we resolve the conflict or not.  We are obliged to work together. I said that I am sincere and believe that you are also. I also said our red lines. If our red lines are crossed, we do not turn blind eyes, even if they are our father’s son,” Erdogan said. The two presidents also discussed the issue of foreign fighters in the conflict.