Nagorno-Karabakh. The long-awaited truce

On 11th of November, the head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Forces, Sergei Rudskoy, stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan had ceased the hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The troops of both countries stopped at the current positions. He added that «in order to control the implementation of the ceasefire, a Russian peacekeeping contingent was sent to the Nagorno-Karabakh area, and to the Lachin corridor». Rudskoy added that the Russian peacekeepers «took control of the Lachin corridor, and a section of the road between Lachin and the ‘Lysogorsky’ state farm. They also set up temporary observation posts».

On Wednesday the Russian Defense Ministry reported that after the video talks between the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, and the Turkish Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar, a memorandum was signed on the establishment of a joint Russian-Turkish center for the control of the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. The document defines the tasks for the center. According to Shoigu — «the decision to create a joint monitoring center will allow a reliable control over the observance of the ceasefire. It will also form a solid basis for a resolution of the long-standing conflict». The joint ceasefire control center will be located on the territory of Azerbaijan. The center will collect, analyze, and verify the information on the compliance of both parties with the ceasefire, as well as other actions that violate the agreement. The center will record the violations using visual surveillance and UAVs. It will also evaluate data from other sources. The center will become a body to deal with any problems and issues, related to the violations of the agreements.

The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, reported that the Russian peacekeepers entered the city of Stepanakert. «10 observation posts were built along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor» — Konashenkov stated and added that the peacekeepers also reached the city of Shusha. «The are building 4 observation posts in the zone of responsibility ‘South’ «. The peacekeepers also took control of the Lachin corridor, and a section of the road ‘Lachin — the Lysogorsky state farm’. 6 temporary observation posts were established in that area. Konashenkov added that the Russian peacekeepers, after their arrival to Armenia, went to the city of Goris. Konashenkov noted that an interaction was established with the general HQs of Azerbaijani and Armenian forces via direct communication channels, in order to prevent incidents, and to ensure the safety of the Russian peacekeepers.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that on Monday, a Russian Mi-24 helicopter was shot down with a MANPADS over Armenia, near the border with Azerbaijan. 2 crew members died, 1 was wounded. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported that the Russian helicopter was shot down by the Azerbaijani troops by a mistake. Baku apologized, and announced their readiness to pay a compensation to Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry positively took the fact that «Baku immediately admitted their guilt». The ministry noted that «Azerbaijan promised that a prompt investigation of the incident will be carried out, and the guilty will be punished». The General Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan announced the start of an investigation of the destruction of the Russian Mi-24 helicopter in the skies over Armenia. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, apologized to Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation. The Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, Zakir Hasanov, expressed his condolences to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. The press secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry, Shushan Stepanyan, stated that Armenia is ready to assist Russia in the investigation of the circumstances of the fall of the Russian Mi-24 helicopter.

On Thursday, the deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria, Rear-Admiral Alexander Grinkevich, reported that an IED exploded on the way of the Russian patrol in the Syrian province of Deraa. «On 12th of November, during a patrol of the Russian military police, escorted by some Syrian security officials, along the route ‘Isra — Sahvat al-Kamh’, in the province of Deraa, an IED exploded on the way of the convoy, near Musseifra» — Grinkevich explained and added that 1 Russian armored car «Tiger» received a minor damage — the vehicle remained on the move. It was noted that «there were no casualties among the Russian servicemen».

Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.