Russia withdraws peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh
- 17 April, 11:30
Russia has started withdrawing its peacekeeping forces from Nagorno-Karabakh before the expiration of their mandate next year. Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmat Hajiyev confirmed media reports of withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers on Wednesday.
“The early withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers, temporarily stationed in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the trilateral Statement signed on November 10, 2020, has been decided by the leaders of both countries. The process has already begun, with the ministries of defense of Azerbaijan and Russia implementing appropriate measures for the execution of that decision,” Hajiyev said in a statement to state news agency Azertag.
Around 2,000 Russian peacekeepers were stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region in line with the trilateral agreement signed in November 2020 that ended a six-week war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The agreement stipulated that the Russian peacekeepers would remain in Nagorno-Karabakh at least until 2025. Hajiyev did not reveal the reason behind the early withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmiry Peskov also confirmed the reports of withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Footage of Russian peacekeepers leaving their positions in Nagorno-Karabakh was circulated on social media on Tuesday. According to Azerbaijan’s Meydan TV, the forage was taken in Azerbaijan’s Tartar and Barda cities, outside of the peacekeeping contingent’s mandate.
