NEWS.am 17.11.21 digest: Latest on Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation

NEWS.am 17.11.21 digest: Latest on Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation

Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the digest on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation as of 17.11.21:

SITUATION

According to an agreement reached through the mediation of the Russian side, starting from 6:30 p.m Tuesday firing stopped in the eastern direction of the border of Armenia, the situation has become relatively stable.

Yesterday, at around 1 p.m., the units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan launched an attack on the Armenian military posts deployed in the given direction of the border. The adversary also used artillery, armored vehicles,, and firearms of various calibers.

DAMAGES

As a result of Tuesday’s hostilities, the adversary has up to 70 killed and wounded soldiers, as well as considerable losses of military equipment—in particular, 4 armored personnel carriers, 1 armored vehicle, and 5 military vehicles, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia noted.

The Armenian side has 1 fallen and 13 captured servicemen. Also, contact with another 24 soldiers was lost during the hostilities, and their fate is unknown at the moment. Intensive work is underway to find these soldiers.

Two Armenian military outposts are now under the control of the adversary.

Talks are underway, with the mediation of the Russian side, to resolve the situation and to have the captured Armenian servicemen returned.

SECURITY SECRETARY

The Armenian authorities expect from Russia that their strategic partner will help resolve the issues related to the recent actions of Azerbaijan, Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, told Kommersant daily of Russia within the framework of the Moscow meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the CIS countries.

He responded to the question as to what kind of assistance Yerevan expects by petitioning to Moscow within the framework of the 1997 agreement.

Earlier, Grigoryan had called on Russia to "protect the territorial integrity of Armenia." "A written [respective] petition is being prepared," he had added.

CAPTIVES

The judicial farce against the Armenian captives continues in Azerbaijan.

According to the Azerbaijani media, the investigation into the criminal case against two Armenian citizens—Ishkhan Sargsyan and Vladimir Rafayelyan—who are accused of terrorism, is over.

The materials of the criminal case were sent to the Ganja Grave Crimes Court.

These two Armenian nationals are charged under Article 214.3 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan; that is, “Terrorism committed with the use of firearms and objects which are used as weapons.”

CALLS

International officials and organizations are calling Armenia and Azerbaijan to take immediate concrete steps to reduce tensions.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said they are deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We also call on the sides to engage directly and constructively to resolve all outstanding issues, including border demarcation," he added.

Meanwhile, according to Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov "thanks to the mediation efforts of the Russian side, it was managed to call on the conflicting parties to show restraint."

In her turn, the Canadian FM calls Armenia, Azerbaijan for de-escalation of the situation.

“Our thoughts are w/ the victims’ families, loved ones & the community.,” Melanie Joly noted.

The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, has also made the statement concerning relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“News of a ceasefire is welcome and I call on both sides to maintain it," she noted.