Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, claimed the need to seek alternatives to Russian “peacekeepers” in Nagorno-Karabakh.

European Pravda reports about this.

According to the Prime Minister, this should be considered if the presence of Russians in the region does not fulfill its purpose.

Pashinyan began his speech by saying that the Russian peacekeepers’ presence and activity in Nagorno-Karabakh is a critical factor in maintaining the Karabakh Armenians’ security.

“Azerbaijan’s capture of Khtsaberd and Khin Tager villages on December 11, 2020, along with the capture of Armenian soldiers in the presence and ignorance of Russian peacekeepers, then the capture of the village of Parukh in Nagorno-Karabakh on March 24, 2022, again in the presence of Russian peacekeepers, increasingly frequent violations of the ceasefire regime along the contact line, cases of physical and psychological intimidation of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians in the presence of peacekeepers are simply unacceptable.

It is extremely important to clarify the details of this peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

If security on the contact line is not ensured in a tripartite format, then it is worth thinking about “launching other international mechanisms”, the Prime Minister of Armenia noted.

As previously reported, on August 3, Azerbaijan announced the capture of several heights in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan’s military launched air strikes against Armenian manpower and artillery.

It was reported that as a result of the action, several D-30 towed howitzers, military equipment, and a large amount of ammunition were destroyed. Airstrikes were launched against a military unit in the village of Yukhary Oratagh (Yuxarı Oratağ – azer.).

Prior to that, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported that the positions of the Azerbaijani military were subjected to intensive shelling. It is noted that during the shelling, the Azerbaijani serviceman was killed. In turn, a partial military mobilization was announced in the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” (“NKR”).

Azerbaijan demands demilitarization of the territory and complete withdrawal of Armenian troops. Its conditions also include the disarmament of illegal Armenian armed groups in Nagorno-Karabakh.

On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan announced a counteroffensive on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, controlled by the unrecognized “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”, which is supported by Armenia. On November 9, 2020, a document was signed that regulates the terms of peace and transfers territories occupied by Armenian troops to Azerbaijan.