Clashes on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan leave dozens dead

First modification: 09/13/2022 – 10:51

With our regional correspondent, Régis Genté

On Tuesday, September 13, shortly after midnight, artillery and heavy weapons fire began on Armenian territory along the border with Azerbaijan, around the breakaway province of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Goris, Sotk and Jermuk regions were affected.

It was this landlocked region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan that was the subject of a 44-day war two years ago. The Azeris regained control of all the occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh and part of the province itself. The brief conflict left 6,500 dead and ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire, a document Baku says is far from being implemented.

At least 49 Armenian soldiers killed

“At the moment, we have 49 (military) dead and unfortunately it is not the final figure,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told parliament.

Azerbaijan acknowledged there were “casualties” in the clashes, which broke out overnight, but did not say exactly how many at this time.

This rise in tension is not really a surprise, although in recent months the Armenian Prime Minister and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have made great strides towards a global peace agreement, led by the European Union. But the boreal summer was tense in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.

Baku blames Armenia for delaying the implementation of all the points of the November 9, 2020 ceasefire, including the withdrawal of Armenian armed formations from Nagorno-Karabakh, which Baku considers its territory.

Overnight, the Armenian government decided to turn to Russia for help under the friendship treaty between the two countries.

“We hope that the agreement reached as a result of Russian mediation on a ceasefire starting at 0900 Moscow time (0600 GMT) on September 13 this year will be carried out in its entirety,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. a statement, adding that she was “extremely concerned” about the uptick in fighting.