The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh

Smoke rises in Nagorno-Karabakh in a photo released by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. According to the authority, Armenian military is in the area. AP  

Armenia: Russian military can stop 'ethnic cleansing'  

 

Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of carrying out "ethnic cleansing" in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, AFP reports.  

 

Armenia's foreign ministry also says the Russian peacekeeping forces in place in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh are mandated to stop the so-called "anti-terror" operation that Azerbaijan launched in the area earlier today.  

 

Moscow played a central role in negotiating the ceasefire that was concluded in the region in 2020 and has since kept troops in place. Azerbaijan believes that the area has been illegally occupied.  

 

 

Separatists: Intense shelling of cities  

 

Armenian separatists say towns in Nagorno-Karabakh are under "intense shelling", reports AFP. 

 

It is happening after Azerbaijan announced that it had started "anti-terrorist" operations in the breakaway region.  

 

At the same time, Armenia's Ministry of Defense states that the situation at the border is stable.  

 

Azerbaijan says humanitarian corridors should be established to evacuate civilians. According to Reuters, the country demands that the separatist "regime" must be dissolved completely. Armenia's Defense Ministry denies that the country has any soldiers in the area. 

 

The province of Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but is populated mostly by ethnic Armenians.  

 

Tensions have intensified recently. map Armenian soldier in Nagorno-Karabakh, stock photo. Sergei Grits / AP  

 

Azerbaijan has launched "anti-terror" operations in Nagorno-Karabakh  

 

Azerbaijan has launched local "anti-terrorist" operations in the breakaway province of Nagorno-Karabakh, the country's defense ministry said, according to several news agencies. The aim is to "inhibit large-scale provocations" and push away what are claimed to be Armenian soldiers.  

 

At the same time, it is reported that six citizens have been killed by landmines in the region. Azerbaijan blames "illegal Armenian groups" for placing the mines. According to AFP, explosions have been heard in the region's largest city, 

 

Stepanakert. Nagorno-Karabakh is formally part of Azerbaijan, but is populated by ethnic Armenians. 

 

Maria Zakharova. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP 

 

Russia urges: "End the carnage"  

 

Russia calls on Azerbaijan and Armenia to "end the carnage" in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, writes AFP. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zacharova says in a statement that the parties should focus on a peaceful solution and refers to the written agreements brokered by Russia. 

 

Recently, tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh have increased. Azerbaijan announced on Tuesday that it had started some kind of operation in the region. Armenian separatists testify to artillery fire and rockets targeting several urban areas. 

 

The region is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but functions as a breakaway region and has a predominantly Armenian population.