Even nearly a quarter of a century after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Karabakh remains a so-called “frozen conflict” on the post-Soviet space, as the region is the subject of a dispute between Azerbaijan and the local Armenian population that draws on strong support from fellow-countrymen in neighboring Armenia.
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Prior to that, on the night of April 1-2, Azerbaijani armed forces initiated overt offensive operations in the southern, southeastern and northeastern directions of the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh.
In response, the Azeri Armed Forces launched 120 strikes, the country’s defense ministry said, according to Sputnik News.
“It is beyond any logic to argue the invalidity of the document, in this context the updated Madrid principles, submitted by co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to the depositary of the Secretary General of OSCE, with the consent of the parties to the conflict – Armenia and Azerbaijan”.
“I came here to tell Russians – it’s you who is killing our children, by giving weapons to a potential killer”, said 56-year-old Hranush Serobyan, referring to Azerbaijan.
Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of Nagorno-Karabakh to the United States, also reflected on the supplying of military equipment to Azerbaijan.
“Russia, no less than Azerbaijan and Armenia, has an interest in there being peace in this region, our region”, Medvedev said.
A tank of the self-defense army of Nagorno-Karabakh moves on the road in the village of Talish on April 6. On April 9, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev made it clear that the conflict could only be resolved after the departure of Armenian forces from Azerbaijan’s territories. On April 7-8, Medvedev traveled to Yerevan and Baku in shuttle diplomacy aimed at defusing the conflict.
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After the statements of Russian officials, Armenian Prime Minister, Hovik Abrahamyan said, “It would be good if they don’t sell [those weapons], but it’s their business, it’s up to them”. The recent clashes were the most serious since the two sides signed a cease-fire in 1994, ending a war that killed some 30,000 people and displaced more than a million.
