The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed the deployment of peacekeepers in a number of towns in southern Karabakh which were recently attacked by Azerbaijani troops.
On December 13, the Russian MoD released a map of the disputed region of Karabakh showing the towns, which are located in the vicinity of Hadrut, within the area guarded by peacekeepers. In previous maps, the towns were shown in the Azerbaijani-held part.
Azerbaijan launched what it called a “forced anti-terrorist operation” in the towns, Khin Taher, Hin Shen and Mets Shen, on December 12. Baku claimed that Armenian forces should withdraw from the towns according to the November 9 peace deal which was brokered by Russia.
However, Armenian forces held onto their positions in the towns. Russian peacekeepers called the Azerbaijani attack a “violation” of the ceasefire in Karabakh.
Armenian Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutiunyan, who is paying a working visit to Russia, discussed the ceasefire violation in Karabakh with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on December 13.
The situation in Karabakh is now once again stable. The Russian MoD said the ceasefire regime is being held along the entire contact line.
The violation, which was the first of its kind, didn’t affect the implementation of the Russian-brokered peace deal that appears to be holding up very-well. Such incidents are deemed to happen in any conflict zone.