cease-fire violations by azeris

[Yervant1]

Tasnim News Agency, Iran

Feb 25 2017

Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan Trade Accusations of Launching Offensive Overnight

News ID: 1338693 Service: Other Media

February, 25, 2017 - 16:59

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Azerbaijan accused each other on Saturday of attempts to launch an offensive during past night.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988, when the autonomous region with a predominantly Armenian population sought to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, before proclaiming independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The warring sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities in 1994.

"Today, at about 3 a.m. [23:00 GMT] and 4 a.m. [00:00 GMT] on south-eastern direction and eastern direction of Karabakh-Azerbaijani line of contact, the Azerbaijani forces attempted to launch an offensive, using mine clearing vehicles and special devices," the NKR's Defense Ministry said in a statement, Sputnik reported.

According to the ministry, Azerbaijani forces suffered losses and retreated, while Nagorno-Karabakh side reportedly sustained no casualties.

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said that the Armenian units tried to seize strategic heights in the area, but the attack was repelled, with both sides suffering losses.

https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/02/25/1338693/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-trade-accusations-of-launching-offensive-overnight

[Yervant1]

If Armenia attacked wouldn't the bodies be in Azeri territory instead of at neutral area? Also common sense dictates that usually the attacking side suffers casualties and not the defenders!

STRATFOR

Feb 26 2017

Armenia, Azerbaijan: Deadly Clashes Occur Along Nagorno-Karabakh Front Lines

Situation Reports

February 25, 2017 | 21:07 GMT

Armenian troops alongside allied Karabakh separatist forces clashed with Azerbaijani troops Feb. 25 in the Khojavend-Fizuli sector of the Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact, the military zone that separates their respective positions, leaving around five Azerbaijani soldiers dead, local sources indicated along with AFP. The bodies of the Azerbaijani troops reportedly remain in the neutral zone between the two sides. Separatist officials said that the fighting had left the local Azerbaijani brigade's head of intelligence dead. Some reports suggest that the fighting began when Azerbaijani reconaissance units launched a limited operation targeting the southeastern and eastern sections of the line of contact. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense, however, accused separatist forces of initiating the clashes in hopes of improving their positions. Later in the evening, Azerbaijani forces claim to have downed an Armenian surveillance drone. Fighting continued along the front line into the night, although it appeared to have subsided slightly overnight with shelling reported.

Feb. 25-26 marks the 25th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre in which Azerbaijani civilians died at the hands of Armenian troops. Commemorative marches took place across Azerbaijan and in Tbilisi on Feb. 25. Two days before, Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nejmeddin Sadiqov visited the line of contact and called for "more resolute measures." On Dec. 29, fighting along the line of contact left three Armenian soldiers dead. The worst fighting in decades occurred in April 2016 and was followed by May peace negotiations held by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group. These negotiations were meant to shore up the 1994 cease-fire that ended the Nagorno-Karabakh War and froze the conflict in place. The origins of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict lie in the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia, which has deep ties with Armenia, still has a great deal of influence over the conflict. The small yet strategic breakaway territory, which has been contested between Armenia and Azerbaijan for more than two decades, could see significant change in the coming months and Russian involvement will be decisive.

https://www.stratfor.com/situation-report/armenia-azerbaijan-deadly-clashes-occur-along-nagorno-karabakh-front-lines

 

 

[Yervant1]

AMN Al-Masdar News

feb 26 2017

Videos: Armenian forces repel largest Azerbaijani attack since last April’s war

By

Paul Antonopoulos

-

26/02/2017

A statement released by the Artsakh Defense Army claimed that the Azerbaijani military made two attempts to carry out attacks against Armenian paramilitary positions at around 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. in the southeastern (Martakert) and eastern (Akna) directions of the Artsakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact.

The statement continued by claiming that several bodies of Azerbaijani soldiers are left in the neutral zone after their offensive failed.

The casualties of the Azerbaijani side include the head of the 181^st intelligence brigade of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Major Abdulayev, commander of the brigade’s intelligence company, Senior Lieutenant Ashimli Shakhlar, intelligence officer Adihusseinov, and two other servicemen, according to the Army statement.

“Several [Azerbaijani] corpses are lying in the neutral zone,” said the statement. “No [servicemen] were killed or wounded on the Armenian side… How can the defending side leave casualties in the neutral zone?” asked a part of the statement.

The first video released by the Ministry (below) shows the demining of the TROPA-type equipment used by Azerbaijani forces (1), the explosion of the grenade launchers and other large-scale weapons used by Azerbaijan in direction of Akna (2), as well as the retreat of Azerbaijani units (3), Armenian Weekly explained.

The second video (below) shows the neutralization of Azerbaijan’s infiltration attempt at Martuni (1) and proof of at least five casualties on the Azerbaijani side (2), the Armenian news agency continued to explain.

The Armenian Weekly explained that Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh is being described as the biggest offensive Azerbaijani forces have launched on Armenian positions since it carried out a full-blown attack on multiple positions of the Artsakh LoC overnight on April 1-2, 2016. The Azerbaijani Army employed tanks, military helicopters, drones, and various caliber weapons in an assault that targeted the LoC on the southern, southeastern, and northeastern fronts. That night, the Artsakh Defense Army retaliated and brought down two helicopters and two drones, and destroyed three tanks. The large-scale attack led to the Four-Day War, which resulted in multiple casualties on both sides.

watch videos at https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/videos-armenian-forces-repel-largest-azerbaijani-attack-since-last-aprils-war/

[Yervant1]

Azerbaijan has no respect even for its soldiers’ bodies – Senor Hasratyan

12:27 • 26.02.17

http://www.groong.com/news/attachments/msg595283/pngyBdV56W8pO.png

Senor Hasratyan, Spokesman for the Defense Army of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), commented on Azerbaijan-disseminated misinformation in a Facebook message.

According to the Azerbaijani reports, on February 25, the Azerbaijani forces downed an Armenian drone and destroyed an Armenian weapon emplacement and, by the end of the day, allegedly shelled the frontline and adjacent territories.

The message reads:

“After suffering losses last night near Akna and Martuni, given the fact that fives bodies are in the neutral territory, the Azerbaijani side was supposed to draw conclusions and refrain from escalating the situation.

“Or rather, by tradition, Azerbaijan not only continues misinforming its public by claiming that, on February 25, the Azerbaijani forces downed an Armenian drone and destroyed an Armenian weapon emplacement and, by the end of the day, allegedly shelled the frontline and adjacent territories, using weapons and artillery, and fired over 100 shots at the frontline of the Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories.

“After that, it is logical that we are dealing with an enemy that is not only cut off reality, but also one that has no respect for the bodies of his own soldiers.”

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2017/02/26/Senor-Hasratyan/2290872

[gamavor]

This video shows exactly how our boys arranged the virgins for the intruders:)

 

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

Artsakh MFA: International community should stop making untargeted calls to parties

22:30, 27.02.2017

http://www.groong.com/news/attachments/msg595380/pngRbNt053_2k.png

STEPANAKERT. - The incident, which occurred on February 25, 2017, is another proof of total disregard by Azerbaijan for the commitments assumed by it, reads the statement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) MFA.

“In the early hours of February 25, 2017, the Azerbaijani armed forces attempted an attack on the positions of the Defense Army of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), which was neutralized by the military units of Artsakh. The incident was the most serious violation of the ceasefire by Azerbaijan after the April war of 2016. Like in last April, it followed the systematic and deliberate steps by the Azerbaijani side on the gradual escalation of tensions, to which the mediators responded by untargeted appeals for restraint.

The incident of February 25, 2017 is another proof of total disregard for the commitments assumed by Azerbaijan in the frameworks of the agreements of 1994 and 1995, as well as the agreements reached in Vienna and St. Petersburg. It is obvious that by increasing the degree of tensions on the Line of Contact the Azerbaijani side tries to check not only the combat capability of the Defense Army of Artsakh, but also the reaction of the international community to the use of force.

It was the absence of international community’s strong and targeted assessment of actions of Azerbaijani authorities on disrupting the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict and preparing for war that to a certain extent, created a situation, taking advantage of which, Baku considered it possible to unleash a military aggression against Artsakh in April 2016.

The escalation of tension on the Line of Contact, provoked by the Azerbaijani side, only deepens the distrust and postpones the prospects for a final resolution of the conflict. We believe that the response to the provocative policy of Azerbaijan must be refraining from making untargeted appeals to the parties of the conflict and increased efforts on the practical implementation of the agreements reached in Vienna and St. Petersburg on strengthening the ceasefire and creating conditions for the resumption of the negotiation process,” the statement says.

https://news.am/eng/news/375849.html

[Yervant1]

The Hill

Feb 27 2017

An end to smoke and mirrors in the Caucuses

By Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, opinion contributor - 02/27/17 06:20 PM EST

In his article curiously titled, “Time for Peace in the Caucuses,” Nasimi Aghayev wove an intricate tale of two countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan, locked in conflict.

The party directly affected by the conflict — Nagorno-Karabakh — was intentionally omitted. What most readers would not derive from the article's substance is Azerbaijan's large-scale offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh in April, 2016 — a calculated act of aggression accompanied by gross violations of international law.

The images of murdered Armenian civilians, beheaded and mutilated, were circulated in the Azerbaijani media with pride. The perpetrators were heroes in Azerbaijan, while the international community turned a blind eye.

Mr. Aghayev refers to the norms of international law and selectively points out the principle of territorial integrity as the sole principle upon which the resolution of the conflict should be based. He fails to mention that the OSCE Minsk Group, internationally mandated to lead the peace process, declared non-use of force, right to self-determination and territorial integrity as the basic principles of the settlement.

There is no hierarchy among the principles of international law and it's disingenuous for Mr. Aghayev to claim otherwise. Moreover, Nagorno-Karabakh has never been part of independent Azerbaijan. Once handed over to Azerbaijan by Joseph Stalin, it remained autonomous until the dissolution of the Soviet Union and became independent in the exact same way as Azerbaijan when it seceded from the USSR.

The people of Nagorno-Karabakh democratically exercised their fundamental rights against the communist regime and the tyranny of Aliyev dynasty. Twenty-five years later Azerbaijan remains a country allergic to any manifestation of pluralism and civil rights. How can one expect the people of Karabakh to believe that suddenly Azerbaijan will respect theirs?

The U.S. State Department warns Armenian-Americans against visiting Azerbaijan. How can Armenians of Karabakh expect safety under Azerbaijani governance? How dare Mr. Aghayev inflict his authoritarian government onto others when it burns the books of the renowned Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli on the streets of Baku promising a reward to anyone who cut off his ear?

Anti-Armenianism, warmongering and continuous military provocations is their endgame. Azerbaijanmistakenly believes that the country's oil revenues guarantee its superiority through military solution.

The United States and international community should adopt a resolute position with a clear message to prevent the renewal of hostilities: use of force will not be tolerated and violations of international obligations will result in real economic and political consequences.

Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte is a refugee from Baku, Azerbaijan; she is a lecturer, human rights activist, city councilor and author of "Nowhere, a Story of Exile."

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/international/321393-an-end-to-smoke-and-mirrors-in-the-caucuses

[Yervant1]

Artsakh forces repel fresh Azeri attack

20:44, 02 Mar 2017

Siranush Ghazanchyan

http://www.armradio.am/en/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Soldier-112-620x300.jpg

The Azerbaijani forces used mortars and automatic grenade launchers as they fired 68 shells at the Armenian positions located in the eastern (Akna) and northeastern (Martakert) directions of the line of contact, Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

The front troops of Artsakh Defense Army undertook relevant measures to repel the Azeri aggression, the Ministry said.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2017/03/02/artsakh-forces-repel-fresh-azeri-attack/

[Yervant1]

http://panorama.am/news_images/580/1738081_3/f58b92afa977e8_58b92afa97826.thumb.png

Politics 12:36 03/03/2017 Armenia

Shahin Mirzoyev: Population in Azerbaijan not backing Ilham Aliyev

“Ilham Aliyev [President of Azerbaijan] appointed his wife as first Vice President of Azerbaijan, and the son - to the post of a deputy minister. The move sparked a debate in the public. That was the reason he decided to enflame the situation across the Line of Contact [of the Nagorno Karabakh] to divert the public attention from the domestic problems,” Azerbaijani opposition journalist Shahin Mirzoyev said at a round table discussion, entitled “Xenophobia and its consequences from the human rights perspective” held in Yerevan.

To remind, Mirzoyev is a journalist at “Tolishi Sado” newspaper and received a temporary asylum in Armenia a month ago, following years-long persecution from the Azerbaijani leadership.

Asked to comment on the reason for the recent provocations by Azerbaijan at the Nagorno Karabakh Line of Contact, Mirzoyev said Azerbaijan faces certain social problems and when resentment reaches a peak the leadership makes use of war threats and launches provocations.

The opposition journalist, however, dismissed the possibility of a large-scale war to be initiated by Azerbaijan. In his conviction no matter how well the country is equipped with modern armament, the main ‘weapon’ of any leader remains his own people with Azerbaijani president having no backing of the Azerbaijani population.

Mirzoyev next said he feels well in Armenia, however, receives daily threats from Azerbaijan. “Threats are accompanying me from morning to evening. I receive them even from the country’s parliament. Certain parliamentarians have even suggested to introduce death penalty and sentence me to death. That is how they are trying to solve the Karabakh conflict,” noted Mirzoyev, adding his relatives face persecutions in Azerbaijan and receive constant threats.

Mirzoyev sees possibilities for the reconciliation between Armenian and Azerbaijani societies, insists reconciliation will not come unless the Aliyev regime is gone.

http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2017/03/03/Shahin-Mirzoyev-Population-in-Azerbaijan-not-backing-Ilham-Aliyev/1738081

[Yervant1]

Newspaper – Tarasov: Azerbaijan is losing Karabakh “match”
10:16, 04.03.2017

http://www.groong.com/news/attachments/msg595838/pngOmFS8JhZUJ.png

YEREVAN. – Disturbing fighting is taking place in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone; they will take place. But the risk of conflict resolution by use of force is gone. Azerbaijan will not dare to go to war alone. Even though Turkey expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan during last year’s war in April, currently it is fighting for its own territorial integrity, since in the case when Azerbaijan has the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkey is very busy today with the Kurdish issue, whereas the US is pushing forward a plan today for the creation of a Kurdish state in the Middle East.

Russian political analyst and columnist Stanislav Tarasov told the aforesaid to 168 Zham (Hour) newspaper of Armenia.

In his view, the Co-Chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group actively exert pressure on Azerbaijan.

“The current reaction of Azerbaijan is due to the fact that the co-chairs are positing conditions: implementation of the agreements adopted in Vienna and St. Petersburg,” added Tarasov. “[but] these are not implemented, since Azerbaijan has great fear that the OSCE would accuse it of violating the ceasefire. Do you know what will happen in this case? Sanctions will begin, Azerbaijan will be declared the aggressor, international sanctions will be imposed, [and] the OSCE Minsk Group may adopt a resolution at the UN Security Council, against the aggressor. Today, the Minsk Group intimidates Azerbaijan with this scenario.”

Also, the Russian analyst stated that according to all the rules diplomacy, Azerbaijan is losing the Karabakh “match.”

“There is a rule in political science: if you agree to play football, you need to play football,” stressed Stanislav Tarasov. “But Azerbaijan is playing football in the first half, [whereas] basketball—in the second; this does not fit into any pattern.”

https://news.am/eng/news/376726.html

[Yervant1]

Artsakh Forces Down Israeli-Made Azerbaijani Drone

• 04/03/17

http://asbarez.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/drone1.jpg

The Artsakh Defense Ministry release photos of the Azerbaijani drone shot down by Karabakh forces Saturday

STEPANAKERT—The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Air Defense Forces on Saturday downed an Azerbaijani drone, reported the Artsakh Defense Ministry, which identified the unmanned aerial vehicle as having been made in Israel.

The Orbiter drone was hit on Saturday around 12:15 p.m. local time in the eastern part of the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border, commonly known as the line of contact, reported the Artsakh Defense Ministry.

Pictures published by the Artsakh Defense Ministry show the downed drone from various directions.

The Artsakh Defense Ministry also reported that from Friday night to Saturday morning, the Azerbaijani forces violated the cease fire more than 40 times on the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border using heavy artillery and targeting the eastern front. The Defense Ministry assured that: “The Artsakh Defense Army units continue to have full control over the frontline and are confidently carrying out the military task set before them.”

The Orbiter drone is manufactured by the Israeli Aeronautics Defense Systems and is designed for use in military operations.

http://asbarez.com/160843/artsakh-forces-down-israeli-made-azerbaijani-drone/

[Yervant1]

It'll Take Large-Scale Action to End the War: Vahan Badasyan

• Lragir.am
• Interview - 05 March 2017, 19:50

• Related
• http://www.lragir.am/upload/img/eng148872964270.JPG

  Situation at Line of Contact

• Artsakh Air Force Struck Azerbaijani UAV

• Night at Line of Contact Was Relatively Calm

• Lapshin Is Provided with Services of Good Lawyer

• ICRC Visited Armenian PoW

http://www.lragir.am/upload/img/eng148872900930.JPG

Interview with Vahan Badasyan, cavalier of the Combat Cross.

 

Mr. Badasyan, the situation at the line of contact remains tense. In your opinion, is the situation getting worse considering that Azerbaijan is using new weapons?

 

Yes, it turns out so. Besides, Azerbaijan is now doing something incomprehensible. This is similar to the propaganda machine of the Soviet Union in 1988-1990. At the moment it started, Moscow spread upside down, distorted but targeted news all over the Soviet Union to play down on, to neutralize the powerful Armenian movement for the liberation of Artsakh. However, of course, it was useless, the water became clear. Now what is happening in our days, openly, with evidence, there are videos showing how the Azerbaijani side is trying to clear the area of mines and come close to our posts and get destroyed near our posts. However, Azerbaijan is in hysteria, claiming that the Armenian side has attacked, the Azerbaijani side has countered the attack and there are casualties. How have they been pushed back if the bodies are in the neutral area, closer to the Armenian posts than to the Azerbaijani ones. The Turkish MFA has even stated that the Armenian side breaches the ceasefire and provokes. This is a matter of operating the propaganda machine, they want to demonstrate to the entire world that the Armenian side continues to attack, does aggression etc. Of course, Azerbaijan cannot gain advantage along that way but a war is imposed and if this continues, only answering them is not enough. If we are the ones who only answer, we may have a lot of losses. We must put an end to this, and it takes adequate steps which the Armenian side must undertake.

 

The president of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan told the Gazeta that the Iskander rocket plays a stabilizing role in the region and will ensure peace in Artsakh, it is the most effective mechanism to achieve peace. Recently many say that silencing Azerbaijanis with Iskanders is the most correct step. In your opinion, is it possible that the Iskanders are used?

 

If the escalation continues, we will continue to have deaths, and we are at an undeclared war, and if in a few days the Iskanders are put to use, I agree to that. But since the Iskanders are not used, they act as a straightjacket, that we can strike but we don’t do.I disagree that this is the only way of maintaining the balance, acting the role of a straight jacket. The existence of Iskanders is very far from being a constraint. Measures should be taken, a large-scale action must be done, a punitive action should be launched and the emplacements must be destroyed. The entire world is doing so. The emplacements from where our soldiers are killed must be destroyed. Whether with an Iskander or a grenade launcher or with a gun, the emplacements must be muted. And even if we risk having deaths, we have to do that to end the war once and for all.Otherwise, having an Iskander is becoming something formal? It’s not a formality, we have an Iskander, we can strike but they may strike us with something else and it will become a real game of war. There are all the premises in place, it is not only the weapon that matters. First, the Armenian side must do everything to draw the attention of the international community, the co-chairs, to the fact that Azerbaijan attacks, the MFA must warn that if this continues, we will have to counteract, and next, it must be announced that in case of one death the Armenian side will destroy the posts. These are actions that must be taken. Otherwise, we say we have Iskander rockets, and they are not afraid and continue to kill many. What are they going to do in that case, they are going to use the Iskander tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. If it is used, I agree but I know it will not be used, its lip service.

 

Mr. Baghdasaryan, will this eventually lead to a large-scale war? For example, Komandos says that there will not be a large scale war but we must have our eyes and ears wide open.

 

Yes, there will be no large-scale war but we must use it correctly. My opinion is that the Armenian side does not act correctly in any situation. Yes, our boys struck right, the subdivision acted right but the command must make a decision and destroy the emplacements that threaten our soldiers. Azerbaijan shells our state border, all the necessary statements must be made, all the necessary actions must be taken. Who is hindering us? This is a dignified posture, a dignified attitude to one’s own country, people. I am deeply convinced that eventually they will come to that, but it may be too late, we can’t linger, we can’t be late.

http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/36861

[Yervant1]

DIVERSION WITH DISINFORMATION

Wednesday, 08 March 2017

As is known, in the early hours of February 25, Azerbaijan launched another military venture – an attempt of diversionary penetration into the territory of the Republic of Artsakh.

Another thing is also known – the diversion had a fatal outcome for official Baku. The servicemen of the Defense Army disclosed the advance of the Azerbaijani special forces and immediately neutralized from 5 to 7 Azeri saboteurs. It should be noted that the venture of the adversary was predictable. In fact, such provocative actions have never ceased, but the Artsakh servicemen have got used to the fact that similar actions by the Azerbaijani side, as a rule, coincide with certain dates. In this case, maybe with the anniversary of the events in Khojalu, which, despite the convincing facts confirming the Azerbaijani authorities’ being responsible for them, official Baku presents them as "genocide". However, let’s stick to the topic and note that not only the diversion, but also its interpretation by the Azerbaijani side was predictable.

The reaction of official Baku to the incident was standard - ordinary disinformation was launched, which, according to the intent of its authors, aimed to convince both its own internal audience and the outside world of the guilt of the Armenian side. Accordingly, Azerbaijan thus tried to shift on it the entire responsibility for the consequences of the grossest violation of the ceasefire. According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense, the sabotage was committed by the Armenian special forces, in a clash with which their servicemen "heroically" perished "while repulsing the enemy's attempt to penetrate into the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces." Frankly speaking, the motion of Baku is both ordinary and primitive. For the simple reason that the external orientation of the propaganda "duck" has hardly worked, as the specialized international structures dealing with the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict have full information about the incident. Moreover, the video, made by the Artsakh military, is placed at the Internet in the Armenian, Russian and English languages, which leaves no doubt of who really intended to commit the sabotage. Also, it is well known that both Armenia and Artsakh, unlike Azerbaijan, agreed to the establishment of a mechanism for investigating the possible incidents on the Line of Contact, and the answer to the question of who is interested in escalating the tensions does not require any serious analytical work.

The "picture" clearly shows how a large group of Azerbaijani saboteurs, observing precautionary measures, makes their way to the positions of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh. It can also be seen how the Artsakh servicemen took their fire posts without any excessive fuss and, waiting for the distance between them and the enemy to become comfortable for them, shot the uninvited guests as partridges. Everything happened in the neutral zone, much closer to the Artsakh than to the Azerbaijani positions, which means that the statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry about the heroic death of its servicemen on their own military positions is nothing but a blatant lie. Among other things, the lie aims to lift from the criminal Baku leadership the responsibility for the death of its own servicemen, whose lives were ruthlessly sacrificed to its adventurous policy.

Now as to the domestic component of this disinformation. Surely, in a situation when the Azerbaijani society is hopelessly impregnated with the poison of Armenian-phobia, it would have fallen into a fertile soil. Most likely, this is how it happened, since the Azerbaijani society has long been disqualified from thinking critically, and it readily swallows any anti-Armenian bait. But, even here the Aliyev regime was to be disappointed. The fact is that after the failure of their sabotage group, the Azerbaijani authorities took full control over the local media in order to prevent the dissemination of information contrary to Baku's official position, otherwise the executives of the publications were threatened to undergo serious measures. However, the information gin was still released from the Azerbaijani bottle. The video material with the bodies of the Azerbaijani saboteurs was posted on the website and YouTube of the news portal "Azərbaycan 24". As a result, the editor-in-chief of this information portal, Elgun Ibrahimov, was invited to the Prosecutor General's Office, where he was demanded to stop distributing information that was "state secret and serving the interests of the enemy". He was also officially notified that if he continued to disseminate such information, more serious measures would be taken against him. In other words, the authorities of Azerbaijan, to falsify the real situation, resort to the same sanctions, which were used during the four-day war in April 2016. At the same time, Baku also tried to misinform its own people, to hide from it the true number of their losses and thereby to escape the responsibility for the numerous meaningless victims.

However, the analogy with the April war arises not only in connection with this. There is no doubt that February 2017 is the result of April 2016. These are links of one chain called pan-Turkism in Azerbaijani. And if the international mediators in the person of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, who knew perfectly well in April 2016 who was the initiator of the war and a threat to the regional peace, would not have taken a passive stance, perhaps, Azerbaijan's current ventures could be avoided, and consequently - the victims.


Leonid MARTIROSYAN

Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper

[MosJan]

STEPANAKERT, Artsakh (A.W.)—Armenian serviceman Artak Rafaelyan (b. 1997) was killed by Azerbaijani fire at around 1 p.m. on March 28. The incident occurred in the eastern direction of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh)-Azerbaijan Line of Contact (LoC), according to a statement published by the Artsakh Defense Ministry.

According to the statement, the Ministry has launched an investigation into the incident. The Ministry also expressed its grief and offered condolences to Rafaelyan’s friends, family, and fellow soldiers.

Rafaelyan’s death comes nearly a month after another Artsakh Defense Army serviceman Nver Babajanyan (b. 1980) was killed on March 1, after being hit by shrapnel during Azerbaijani shelling on Armenian positions in the southeast Martuni direction of LoC.

Four days earlier, on Feb. 25, Azerbaijani forces made two major offensive attempts in the most intense fighting along the Artsakh-Azerbaijani border since early April 2016. Attempts were carried out at around 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. in the southeastern (Martakert) and eastern (Akna) directions of the Artsakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact (LoC). Artsakh forces detected the Feb. 25 advancements early on and drove Azerbaijani forces back to their starting positions. At least six Azerbaijani servicemen were killed in that attack.

 

http://armenianweekly.com/2017/03/28/armenian-serviceman-killed-by-azerbaijani-fire-4/

[Yervant1]

[Yervant1]

Impunity for Maragha atrocities encouraged new crimes – Shavarsh Kocharyan

20:42, 10 Apr 2017

Siranush Ghazanchyan

http://www.armradio.am/en/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Shavarsh-Kocharyan-18-620x300.jpg

Today marks one of the darkest, yet not widely known pages of the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Twenty-five years ago Azerbaijan committed gross violation of the International Humanitarian Law.

“On April 10, 1992, the Azerbaijani “OMON” – Special Purpose Mobility Unit, destroyed and set on fire Maragha village of the self-determined Artsakh Republic, burned alive and tortured to death through inhuman cruelty its peaceful population. A part of the villagers was taken as a hostage – the fate of some of them is still unknown,” Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said in comments on 25th anniversary of Maragha tragedy.

“In several hours of Azerbaijan’s control over the village its inhabitants went through the atrocities and barbarism, which fully meet all the criteria of a crime against humanity,” he said.

“The impunity for atrocities committed in Maragha encouraged the continuation of perpetration of new crimes in an atmosphere of complete permissiveness. The barbarism committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces during last April aggression against Artsakh undeniably prove that,” Shavarsh Kocharyan stated.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2017/04/10/impunity-for-maragha-atrocities-encouraged-new-crimes-shavarsh-kocharyan/

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

May 14 2017

Azerbaijani forces apply cannons, mortars at Artsakh Line of Contact

Azerbaijani forces broke the ceasefire across the Line of contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing troops 75 times overnight to May 13-14, firing around 750 shot toward the Armenian positions from weapons of different calibers.

As the Defense Army of the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Republic reports, apart from firearms, Azerbaijani forces applies D-44 cannon (65 shells), 60mm and 82mm mortars (17 shells) in the northern direction of the Line of Contact.

Defense Army frontline units took retaliatory measures to suppress the Azerbaijani activeness, the released said, adding as of morning May 14 situation remains calm on the frontline.

 

http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2017/05/14/Azerbaijani-forces-apply-cannons-mortars-at-Artsakh-Line-of-Contact/1776863

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

Interfax - Russia & CIS General Newswire
May 15, 2017 Monday 9:32 PM MSK


Stepanakert reports missile attack at military facility conducted by
Azerbaijani side

YEREVAN. May 15

The Azerbaijani Armed Forcers opened fire at a military facility in
the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on Monday afternoon, the
unrecognized republic's Defense Ministry said.

The Azerbaijani troops opened fire with guided missiles at a military
facility at 4:30 p.m. local time on Monday, as a result, a piece of
military equipment was partially damaged, the ministry said.

"There are no losses among the military personnel in the Armed Forces
of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's
Defense Ministry announces that the Azerbaijani side's provocation
will not go unanswered and the Azerbaijani military and political
leadership will be held responsible for all consequences," the
ministry said.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said earlier that an Armenian Osa
anti-aircraft missile system had been destroyed in the Karabakh
conflict zone.

[Yervant1]

PanArmenian

May 16 2017

Armenia: Baku will bear responsibility for consequences of provocations

http://media.pn.am/media/issue/239/856/photo/239856.jpg

May 16, 2017 - 12:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday, May 16 condemned Azerbaijan’s provocations along the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) contact line, declaring that Baku will bear the entire responsibility of the consequences.

Azerbaijani armed forces on Monday initiated provocations along the Artsakh contact line , using a guided missile to open fire towards a Karabakh army military objective.

According to the Artsakh army, "one unit of military equipment was partially damaged." In a statement, the Karabakh Defense Army said it has sustained no manpower losses in the attack.

A spokesman for the Nagorno Karabakh president, Davit Babayan said earlier that the “terrorist act is directed not only against Karabakh and Armenia, but the international community too.”

On Monday, Artsakh Defense Army declared that the Azerbaijani armed forces' provocations will not go unanswered, with Baku set to bear the whole responsibility of the consequences.

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/239856/Armenia_Baku_will_bear_responsibility_for_consequences_of_provocations

[MosJan]

Artsakh Defense Forces Take Preventative Measures; Azerbaijan Suffers Losses“In response to the enemy’s activity at the Line of Contact (LoC) that took place on May 16-17, Artsakh Defense Forces took preventative actions, as a result of which, according to the reliable data provided by the Defense Army, the Azerbaijani side suffered losses,” reada statement released by the Artsakh Defense Ministry on May 17.

 

The retaliatory strikes were likely also in response to the guided missile strikes that were launched by Azerbaijani forces earlier this week.

 

The Ministry also published a video showing the destruction of certain Azerbaijani positions, including a communication command point and a military vehicle.

 

Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire over 60 times, firing more than 900 shots at various Armenian positions with different caliber artillery weapons on May 16-17.

 

In addition to artillery weapons, the Azerbaijani side fired 21 mortar shells toward the eastern direction of the LoC as well as 19 mortar shells and 5 shells from a grenade launcher toward the northeastern direction of the LoC.

 

Source: Armenian Weekly

[MosJan]

Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry releases video of deadly preventive raid

 

Nagorno-Karabakh’s (Artsakh) Ministry of Defense has released the video of its recent deadly preventive raid against the Azerbaijani armed forces.

 

 

In an official press release, the Ministry says that it launched the attack in retaliation again the intensive shelling recorded on the night between May 16 and 17.

 

 

“The military subdivisions of the Defense Army took preventive action which - as the reliable information available to the Defense Army services suggests – inflicted heavy losses on Azerbaijan,” reads the statement.

 

[Yervant1]

Blame the Armenians! Weird!!!!!!!

Public Radio of Armenia

May 19 2017

Azerbaijan shells its own positions – Artsakh MoD

The Azerbaijani forces used 60 mm mortars as they shelled their own positions from 12:19 to 13:32 today, which led to blasts at Seysulan-Yarimsha section of the frontline, Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

The Ministry said the actions are “beyond common sense” and follow the Azerbaijani attempts to deliberately aggravate the situation at the line of contact with Artsakh forces.

“The incident comes to prove the lack of vertical management in the Azerbaijani army,” the Ministry said in a statement, adding that “it could also be a preparation for a new provocation.”

The Defense Ministry informs that the Armenian side has strongly observed the ceasefire regime throughout the day.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2017/05/19/azerbaijan-shells-its-own-positions-artsakh-mod/

 

 

[Yervant1]

OSCE blames them and says don't do it again. What a joke!

Asbarez Armenian News

May 19 2017

OSCE Minsk Group Blames Azerbaijan for Missile Attack

• http://asbarez.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Karabakh-Mod.jpg

A guided missile attack by Azerbaijan partially destroyed Artsakh military equipment (Photo: Defense Ministry of the Artsakh Republic)

YEREVAN—The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America, issued a statement on Friday holding Azerbaijan accountable for the missiles fired in an attack against the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic on the night of May 16-17. The Minsk Group further condemned their ceasefire violations.

The Azerbaijani armed forces launched a Spike guided missile attack Monday afternoon, partially destroying military equipment, defense officials in Armenia and Artsakh confirmed, and reported no casualties.

The offensive used 60-mm mortars and an antitank grenade launcher at different parts of the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border.

The statement by the Minsk Group can be read below in its entirety.

****

According to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. On the evening of 16 May and continuing into 17 May, Armenian armed forces retaliated with mortar fire of various calibers. These actions by both sides represent significant violations of the ceasefire and are cause for alarm.

There are contradictory reports regarding the targets of these recent strikes, as well as about casualties sustained and damages inflicted. The Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office continue to collect further data and analysis to gain more complete and accurate information about the current situation.

The Co-Chairs condemn these recent ceasefire violations and call upon the sides to take all necessary measures to prevent any further escalation in the conflict zone.

http://asbarez.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/NalbandianCouncilOfEuropeSecretaryGeneral.jpg

Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian meets Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on May 19, 2017 in Nicosia, Cyprus. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia)

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian during a meeting with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on May 19 in Cyrus highlighted Baku’s continuous ceasefire violations.

Nalbandian stressed that Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group work together to uphold a peaceful settlement of the Artsakh conflict while “Armenia constantly calls on the OSCE Minsk Group to point out the party responsible for ceasefire violations.”

“Baku is doing the utmost to disrupt the peace process,” Nalbandian said. “Opposing the consistent calls of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the international community to strongly observe the ceasefire regime, Azerbaijan keeps violating the trilateral agreements on ceasefire.

Nalbandian stressed that “By turning down the creation of an investigation mechanism, Azerbaijan is trying to avoid responsibility for periodic violations of the ceasefire regime,” Nalbandian said.

http://asbarez.com/163548/osce-minsk-group-blames-azerbaijan-for-missile-attack/