Nagorno-Karabakh Announces Ceasefire with Azerbaijan

By Staff, Agencies

Following a proposal by local Russian peacekeeping forces, authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh have announced their decision to cease hostilities with Azerbaijan, just a day after Baku initiated a counter-terrorism operation in the breakaway region. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has confirmed their forces’ agreement to halt hostilities as well.

In a statement on Facebook on Wednesday, the InfoCenter of Nagorno-Karabakh said that despite the regional forces’ best efforts to repel a “large-scale offensive” by Azerbaijan, “the enemy managed to break into the military positions… [and] take control of a number of heights and strategic road junctions.”

Taking this into consideration, Nagorno-Karabakh “accepted the proposal of the command of the Russian peacekeeping mission regarding the cessation of fire,” the statement read. “The ceasefire agreement enters into force starting from 13:00 on September 20, 2023,” it added. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has also confirmed this information.

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said the terms of the agreement require both Yerevan’s military and “illegal Armenian armed groups” to lay down their arms and leave their combat positions while handing over all weapons to Baku. “The implementation of this process will be ensured in coordination with the Russian peacekeeping contingent,” it noted.

Meanwhile, the regional authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh noted that a meeting scheduled for Thursday between the local community and representatives from Baku will address a comprehensive range of topics, including reintegration, human rights, and the security of the local population.