No:123/23, Press Release on Armenia’s further provocations in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian Federation peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed
As reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to the operational information, the Armenian side, contrary to the provisions of the Trilateral Statement dated November 10, 2020, using the unpaved road of Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu, continued to carry out the transportation of weapons and ammunition, military personnel, including landmines to the territory of Azerbaijan, where the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation is temporarily deployed.
As previously stated by Azerbaijan, Armenia did not stop its provocations even after the 44-day Patriotic War, which ended the 30-year occupation of our territories, did not fully withdraw the Armenian armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, and carried out the transportation of weapons, ammunition, and transferred and planted 2021-Armenia-produced landmines in Azerbaijan. The facts of the placement of landmines were demonstrated during the visit of the representatives of the Turkey-Russia Joint Monitoring Center to the area.
In order to check and verify the information received regarding the transportation of weapons and ammunition, military personnel and landmines from alternative auxiliary roads to the Lachin road, on March 5 the operational unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan was sent to the area, and attempted to check the vehicles transporting weapons, ammunition, military personnel and landmines from Armenia to Khankendi. However, as a result of the fire opened from the opposite side, there are deaths and injuries among the Armed Forces of the Azerbaijan Republic. The opposite side was suppressed by fire of our Armed Forces.
Such acts of aggression and provocations demonstrate that Armenia did not give up its occupation policy against Azerbaijan, Armenia’s views regarding the peace agenda are nothing but hypocrisy, and Armenia is not interested in establishing peace and security in the region. These actions once again prove the necessity for the establishment of the border checkpoint regime between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
In order to prevent such kind of military provocations, the Azerbaijani side demands the implementation of the trilateral statement, ceasing the illegal transportation of weapons and ammunition, military personnel and landmines from Armenia, as well as the immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan.
Armenia bears all responsibility for the escalation of the situation in the region.