Azerbaijan: Nearly 2,800 soldiers killed in Karabakh fighting
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Dec 5, 2020
The hostilities ended November 10 with a Russia-brokered peace deal that saw Azerbaijan reclaim the territories that Armenian forces had controlled for more than a quarter-century.
Last month's Russian-brokered truce ended six weeks of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the deployment of nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers following Azerbaijan reclaiming significant territory in the mostly ethnic Armenian enclave which is internationally-recognised as belonging to Azerbaijan. Another 1,245 are being treated in medical facilities.
President Ilham Aliyev said earlier this week that 94 Azerbaijani civilians were also killed and 400 more have been wounded.
Armenia's Health Ministry said Wednesday that at least 2,718 Armenian servicemen were killed in the fighting.
Yerevan had earlier announced that 2,317 Armenian troops died during the conflict. That conflict left not only Nagorno-Karabakh itself but large chunks of surrounding lands in Armenian hands.
In fierce fighting that began September 27, the Azerbaijani army routed Armenian forces and pushed deep into the separatist territory.
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a Moscow-brokered peace deal on November 9 after Baku's army overwhelmed the other side and threatened to advance on Karabakh's main city Khankendi (Stepanakert in Armenian).
The agreement stipulated that Armenia hand over control to Azerbaijan of several regions it holds outside Nagorno-Karabakh's borders.
Russian Federation deployed almost 2,000 peacekeepers for a period of at least five years to monitor the deal and facilitate the return of refugees.
Foreign mercenaries were reported to take part in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and some of them were thought to be affiliated with armed groups and individuals that have been accused of war crimes and serious human rights abuses during the conflict in Syria.
Mr Aliyev made the decision as November 10 is Ataturk Memorial Day in Turkey, Azerbaijan's major ally, a statement by the Azerbaijani presidential administration read.
Turkey has extended its clout in the region by strongly backing Azerbaijan.
Turkey and Russian Federation will monitor the ongoing ceasefire through a joint centre in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The peace deal has sparked outrage in Armenia.
Former National Security Service Chairman Artur Vanetsyan said Manukyan could serve as a prime minister without a party affiliation and then call snap elections that he himself would not take part in.
