On March 25, the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the line of contact established by the Tripartite Statement in the Shushi-Lisagor sector on March 25, gaining ground in the territory of the Artsakh Republic.
As a result of Azerbaijan’s advancement, the road connecting Stepanakert with 4 villages of Shushi (Lisagor, Mets Shen, Hin Shen and Yeghtsahogh) has been closed for security reasons.
BREAKING: The armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the line of contact established by the Tripartite Statement in the Shushi-Lisagor sector on March 25, gaining ground in the territory of the Artsakh Republic.
The Artsakh Republic authorities promptly informed the Russian… pic.twitter.com/9eM9aX2UuH
— 301🇦🇲 (@301arm) March 25, 2023
According to the Artsakh Infocenter, the Azerbaijanis forces advanced their combat position to a height that enabled them to fully control the Stepanakert-Lisagor road. Azerbaijani then started to carry out engineering work on their occupied site.
Along with this, the operation was accompanied by an unprecedented wave of disinformation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan against Armenia and Russian peacekeeping forces, through which an attempt was made to manipulate the international community with misinformation.
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan continues to spread fake news that the Armenian side is allegedly using the Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road to transport military supplies – Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Artsakh pic.twitter.com/uP63BEXBXn
— 301🇦🇲 (@301arm) March 24, 2023
It is worthwhile to note that this time the Russian Ministry of Defense clearly accused Azerbaijan of violating the provisions of the Tripartite Statement and urged it to return to the original positions.
On the evening of the same day, the Artsakh Infocenter reported that after the positional advancement of the armed forces of Azerbaijan to one of the heights adjacent to the Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road, the Russian peacekeeping forces have positioned themselves on the given height and control it. Currently, they are negotiating with the Azerbaijani side to ensure their return to the original positions. This Azerbaijani infiltration took place approximately one year after Parukh and Karaglukh were occupied by Azerbaijan.
One year ago today, Parukh and Karaglukh of Artsakh became occupied by Azerbaijan.
This illegal occupation by Azerbaijan is a gross violation of the Tripartite Statement of Nov 9, 2020.
The lack of accountability has allowed for Azerbaijan to continue with its aggressive crimes… pic.twitter.com/KExe06JfrZ
— 301🇦🇲 (@301arm) March 24, 2023
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh published a statement regarding the advancement and the line of contact violation by Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan’s actions aimed at tightening the ring around Artsakh are a cynical response to the order of the International Court of Justice to immediately unblock the Lachin Corridor connecting Artsakh with Armenia, as well as a challenge to the international legal order. We expect that the Russian peacekeeping forces will take practical steps to eliminate the consequences of Azerbaijan’s repeated violation of provisions of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, as well as to prevent any new possible violations,” said the statement.
The statement also called on the international community to adopt a stern position to force Azerbaijan to return to the legal framework and implement its international obligations.
