Azerbaijani forces tightened their grip on the breakaway area of Nagorno-Karabakh as worldwide concern mounted over the plight of tens of 1000’s of ethnic Armenian civilians trapped there.
As the primary Crimson Cross assist convoy crossed into the disputed enclave since Azerbaijan launched a lightning offensive final week, Baku’s forces mentioned insurgent “demilitarisation” had begun.
Ethnic Armenian separatist fighters have began surrendering weapons beneath a Russian-mediated settlement.
On Saturday, the Azerbaijani troops had been eager to indicate off a captured insurgent arsenal. They displayed sniper rifles, a whole lot of assault weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, and 4 tanks.
“We now have extra like that within the forest, however we are able to’t deliver all of them right here,” mentioned Lieutenant-Common Mais Barkhudarov, commander of Azerbaijan’s 2nd Military Corps.
From the Shusha district, exterior the regional capital Stepanakert, Azerbaijani Colonel Anar Eyvazov mentioned his troopers had been working intently with Russian peacekeepers to conduct the demilitarisation course of.
Azerbaijan now controls the Lachin Corridor to the southwest, which as soon as linked the breakaway area to Armenia. Baku has mounted a de facto blockade there for the previous 9 months.