Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijan's defence ministry released a video showing a tank flying an Azerbaijani flag leading a column of trucks into the Lachin district.

AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia, which brokered the peace settlement.

Armenia agreed to hand over three districts around Karabakh — Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar — as part of the deal that stopped an Azerbaijani offensive that had reclaimed swathes of territory lost to Armenian separatists in a 1990s war.&nbsp;

Like in Aghdam and Kalbajar, residents of Lachin cleared out frantically ahead of the handover, taking livestock, firewood, furniture and even plastic water pipes.

Some residents have burnt their homes as they left, and on Monday evening two houses on the outskirts of Lachin town were in flames.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenians-at-a-crossroads-on-last-route-out-of-karabakh-345866">Armenians at a crossroads on last route out of Karabakh</a>

Local official Davit Davtyan said residents had been given until 6:00 pm to leave, except those allowed to stay along the Lachin corridor that runs to Armenia's border.&nbsp;

'Nowhere to go'

The peace deal saw some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed between the two sides and along the corridor, a 60-kilometre (35-mile) route through Lachin that connects Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to Armenia.

The column of a dozen Azerbaijani military trucks was moving slowly overnight along the corridor in the direction of the Armenian border, with Russian military vehicles at the head and rear.&nbsp;

Davtyan said some 200 people would be allowed to stay to maintain local infrastructure.

"Residents who were not able to leave because they had nowhere to go said they would stay and see what happens on Tuesday," he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh broke from Azerbaijan's control in a war after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union that left some 30,000 dead.&nbsp;

The region declared independence but it was never recognised by any country, including Armenia which strongly backs the separatists.&nbsp;

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The peace accord signed on November 9 was reached after six weeks of fighting that saw Azerbaijan's army overwhelm separatists forces and threaten to advance on Stepanakert.

Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts that it seized around Karabakh in the 1990s — many Azerbaijanis who were forced to flee are now planning to return.

The separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh's Soviet-era territory but have lost the key town of Shusha.

While some Armenians have been fleeing the districts ceded to Azerbaijan, others in Lachin had nowhere to go.

In the village of Aghavno along the Lachin corridor, 60-year-old Araksya Gyokchakyan watched residents load furniture and firewood into cars and trucks even as she was set on remaining behind.

"I don't know where to go. I stayed here during the war. It's my home," she told AFP.

Meanwhile, other Armenians have been returning to Karabakh itself.

Russia's defence ministry, which is helping with the returns, said on Monday that more than 25,000 people who fled the fighting had been brought back.

Russia's role grows

Moscow's peacemaker role has overshadowed France and the United States — the three countries that form the Minsk Group, which led talks on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement.&nbsp;

France's position in future negotiations may be further under threat after Azerbaijani lawmakers last week demanded the country be expelled from the Minsk Group.

The move came after the French Senate adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognise Karabakh as an independent state.&nbsp;

Azerbaijan has also called for its staunch ally Turkey to play a role in the peacekeeping mission, but Moscow insists Ankara will not be involved.&nbsp;

Since the announcement of the peace deal — which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been under fire at home.

Protesters have regularly taken to the streets of the capital Yerevan, branding him a "traitor" for agreeing to the deal and demanding his resignation.

Demonstrators rallied again on Monday, including outside the French embassy in Yerevan, appealing for help in finding soldiers still missing after the fighting.

While Armenia has reported more than 2,300 military casualties, thought to be an underestimate, Azerbaijan has not disclosed any military losses.

More than 100 civilians were reported killed on both sides.

Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan's defence ministry released a video showing a tank flying an Azerbaijani flag leading a column of trucks into the Lachin district. AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia, which brokered the peace settlement. Armenia agreed to hand over three districts around Karabakh — Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar — as part of the deal that stopped an Azerbaijani offensive that had reclaimed swathes of territory lost to Armenian separatists in a 1990s war. Like in Aghdam and Kalbajar, residents of Lachin cleared out frantically ahead of the handover, taking livestock, firewood, furniture and even plastic water pipes. Some residents have burnt their homes as they left, and on Monday evening two houses on the outskirts of Lachin town were in flames. Also read| Armenians at a crossroads on last route out of Karabakh Local official Davit Davtyan said residents had been given until 6:00 pm to leave, except those allowed to stay along the Lachin corridor that runs to Armenia's border. 'Nowhere to go' The peace deal saw some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed between the two sides and along the corridor, a 60-kilometre (35-mile) route through Lachin that connects Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to Armenia. The column of a dozen Azerbaijani military trucks was moving slowly overnight along the corridor in the direction of the Armenian border, with Russian military vehicles at the head and rear. Davtyan said some 200 people would be allowed to stay to maintain local infrastructure. "Residents who were not able to leave because they had nowhere to go said they would stay and see what happens on Tuesday," he said. Nagorno-Karabakh broke from Azerbaijan's control in a war after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union that left some 30,000 dead. The region declared independence but it was never recognised by any country, including Armenia which strongly backs the separatists. × The peace accord signed on November 9 was reached after six weeks of fighting that saw Azerbaijan's army overwhelm separatists forces and threaten to advance on Stepanakert. Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts that it seized around Karabakh in the 1990s — many Azerbaijanis who were forced to flee are now planning to return. The separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh's Soviet-era territory but have lost the key town of Shusha. While some Armenians have been fleeing the districts ceded to Azerbaijan, others in Lachin had nowhere to go. In the village of Aghavno along the Lachin corridor, 60-year-old Araksya Gyokchakyan watched residents load furniture and firewood into cars and trucks even as she was set on remaining behind. "I don't know where to go. I stayed here during the war. It's my home," she told AFP. Meanwhile, other Armenians have been returning to Karabakh itself. Russia's defence ministry, which is helping with the returns, said on Monday that more than 25,000 people who fled the fighting had been brought back. Russia's role grows Moscow's peacemaker role has overshadowed France and the United States — the three countries that form the Minsk Group, which led talks on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement. France's position in future negotiations may be further under threat after Azerbaijani lawmakers last week demanded the country be expelled from the Minsk Group. The move came after the French Senate adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognise Karabakh as an independent state. Azerbaijan has also called for its staunch ally Turkey to play a role in the peacekeeping mission, but Moscow insists Ankara will not be involved. Since the announcement of the peace deal — which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been under fire at home. Protesters have regularly taken to the streets of the capital Yerevan, branding him a "traitor" for agreeing to the deal and demanding his resignation. Demonstrators rallied again on Monday, including outside the French embassy in Yerevan, appealing for help in finding soldiers still missing after the fighting. While Armenia has reported more than 2,300 military casualties, thought to be an underestimate, Azerbaijan has not disclosed any military losses. More than 100 civilians were reported killed on both sides.

Azerbaijani forces enter last district handed over by Armenia

Azerbaijan forces moved into final district given up by Armenia in the peace deal. This comes after weeks of fighting between the two countries over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijan forces entered Lachin District

Dressed in impeccable camouflage fatigues with Kalashnikovs slung over their shoulders, Russian peacekeepers stand guard along the last road linking Armenia with the restive region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

After meticulously writing down a car's registration number in a large notebook, a soldier stands aside to let the driver pass and wishes him a good journey.

"When the peacekeepers arrived, the situation became calmer than during the war. It's reassuring," says Erik Tovmasyan, who is driving from Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to the Armenian capital Yerevan for eye surgery.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/azerbaijan-slams-french-senates-vote-on-nagorno-karabakh-urges-removal-from-mediation-345660">Azerbaijan slams French Senate's vote on Nagorno-Karabakh; urges removal from mediation</a>

For Armenians still reeling from defeat in recent fighting with Azerbaijan, the peacekeepers who deployed under a Moscow-brokered peace deal are a welcome presence.

But with the region surrounding the road set to be handed back to Azerbaijan next week, many here are facing an uncertain future.

Russia has sent 2,000 peacekeepers to the region under the deal that ended six weeks of heavy fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan's control in a war in the 1990s.

Fresh clashes over Karabakh erupted in late September and ended after Azerbaijani forces had reclaimed large areas from Armenian control.

The peacekeepers have deployed between the two sides including along a 60-kilometre (35-mile) stretch connecting Stepanakert with the Armenian border in the south.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-probes-war-crimes-during-the-conflict-345376">Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan probes war crimes during the conflict</a>

Strategic road

The strategic road runs through the Lachin district, the third and last territory near Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenia will cede to Azerbaijan on December 1 under the peace deal.

Two other districts — neighbouring Kalbajar and Aghdam to the northeast — were returned to Azerbaijan earlier this month.&nbsp;

In its northern part, the Lachin corridor diverges towards Shusha, a strategic and historic town overlooking Stepanakert that was captured by Azerbaijan in a pivotal moment of the war.&nbsp;

The small road leading to Shusha is blocked by soldiers from Baku, who are positioned close to the Russians.

AFP journalists passing nearby could hear Azerbaijani songs and music broadcast over loudspeakers from their position.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/karabakh-peace-deal-fuels-confusion-anxiety-over-new-borders-344611">Karabakh peace deal fuels confusion, anxiety over new borders</a>

"They do it from time to time," says one of Moscow's soldiers.&nbsp;

At another checkpoint on a road leading into the town, an Azerbaijani special forces captain tells AFP that the situation inside is calm.&nbsp;

"There are only soldiers in Shusha," says the officer, who will not give his name. "Civilians (Azerbaijanis) come from time to time only to repair infrastructure" damaged in the fighting.

When Armenian separatists gained control of these districts three decades ago, local Azerbaijanis fled the territories and Armenians moved in.&nbsp;

Now, it is the Armenians who are deciding whether to abandon their homes, fearing what will happen when Azerbaijanis return.

'Nowhere to go'

In the town of Lachin, at the heart of the five-kilometre-wide (three-mile-wide) corridor, the manager of a grocery store is wondering what to do.&nbsp;

"We have no information about whether we should leave," says the man who does not wish to give his name, adding that he hopes to keep his store.

In front of his shop, 81-year-old Margarita Khanagyan leans on her cane as she stands next to an armoured vehicle belonging to the Russian peacekeepers.

"I left during the war, then we were told to come back and I came back. Now we have to leave again, but to where?"

Uncertainty also looms over the village of Aghavno, the last residential area before the border with Armenia where several dozen houses were built 10 years ago, just below the road.&nbsp;

Men here are always carrying rifles, prepared to defend themselves at any moment.

"They can't scare us," says village head Andranik Chavushyan, 39. "We will still be living here."

Standing next to him, Narine Rasoyan begins to cry.

Pregnant with her sixth child, Rasoyan lost her husband in the recent fighting.&nbsp;

"I have nowhere to go with my five children, where would I stay?" she says through her tears. "Let them give me a house and I will leave."

Dressed in impeccable camouflage fatigues with Kalashnikovs slung over their shoulders, Russian peacekeepers stand guard along the last road linking Armenia with the restive region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Dressed in impeccable camouflage fatigues with Kalashnikovs slung over their shoulders, Russian peacekeepers stand guard along the last road linking Armenia with the restive region of Nagorno-Karabakh. After meticulously writing down a car's registration number in a large notebook, a soldier stands aside to let the driver pass and wishes him a good journey. "When the peacekeepers arrived, the situation became calmer than during the war. It's reassuring," says Erik Tovmasyan, who is driving from Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to the Armenian capital Yerevan for eye surgery. Also read| Azerbaijan slams French Senate's vote on Nagorno-Karabakh; urges removal from mediation For Armenians still reeling from defeat in recent fighting with Azerbaijan, the peacekeepers who deployed under a Moscow-brokered peace deal are a welcome presence. But with the region surrounding the road set to be handed back to Azerbaijan next week, many here are facing an uncertain future. Russia has sent 2,000 peacekeepers to the region under the deal that ended six weeks of heavy fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan's control in a war in the 1990s. Fresh clashes over Karabakh erupted in late September and ended after Azerbaijani forces had reclaimed large areas from Armenian control. The peacekeepers have deployed between the two sides including along a 60-kilometre (35-mile) stretch connecting Stepanakert with the Armenian border in the south. Also read| Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan probes war crimes during the conflict Strategic road The strategic road runs through the Lachin district, the third and last territory near Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenia will cede to Azerbaijan on December 1 under the peace deal. Two other districts — neighbouring Kalbajar and Aghdam to the northeast — were returned to Azerbaijan earlier this month. In its northern part, the Lachin corridor diverges towards Shusha, a strategic and historic town overlooking Stepanakert that was captured by Azerbaijan in a pivotal moment of the war. The small road leading to Shusha is blocked by soldiers from Baku, who are positioned close to the Russians. AFP journalists passing nearby could hear Azerbaijani songs and music broadcast over loudspeakers from their position. Also read| Karabakh peace deal fuels confusion, anxiety over new borders "They do it from time to time," says one of Moscow's soldiers. At another checkpoint on a road leading into the town, an Azerbaijani special forces captain tells AFP that the situation inside is calm. "There are only soldiers in Shusha," says the officer, who will not give his name. "Civilians (Azerbaijanis) come from time to time only to repair infrastructure" damaged in the fighting. When Armenian separatists gained control of these districts three decades ago, local Azerbaijanis fled the territories and Armenians moved in. Now, it is the Armenians who are deciding whether to abandon their homes, fearing what will happen when Azerbaijanis return. 'Nowhere to go' In the town of Lachin, at the heart of the five-kilometre-wide (three-mile-wide) corridor, the manager of a grocery store is wondering what to do. "We have no information about whether we should leave," says the man who does not wish to give his name, adding that he hopes to keep his store. In front of his shop, 81-year-old Margarita Khanagyan leans on her cane as she stands next to an armoured vehicle belonging to the Russian peacekeepers. "I left during the war, then we were told to come back and I came back. Now we have to leave again, but to where?" Uncertainty also looms over the village of Aghavno, the last residential area before the border with Armenia where several dozen houses were built 10 years ago, just below the road. Men here are always carrying rifles, prepared to defend themselves at any moment. "They can't scare us," says village head Andranik Chavushyan, 39. "We will still be living here." Standing next to him, Narine Rasoyan begins to cry. Pregnant with her sixth child, Rasoyan lost her husband in the recent fighting. "I have nowhere to go with my five children, where would I stay?" she says through her tears. "Let them give me a house and I will leave."

Armenians at a crossroads on last route out of Karabakh

Azerbaijan is investigating the alleged war crimes committed by both Azerbaijan and Armenian forces during the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan's prosecutor general confirmed this to AFP on Wednesday. Both countries have traded accusations of war crimes. The conflict overe Nagorno-Karabakh erupted in late September.

Videos circulated on social media during the fighting that allegedly showed executions of Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijani troops and Armenian soldiers defiling the bodies of Azerbaijani servicemen.

Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev told AFP his office was studying the footage as part of a probe into inhumane treatment of Azerbaijani prisoners and the defilement of bodies of Azerbaijani troops.

"We have also initiated an investigation into inhumane treatment of Armenian servicemen that were taken prisoner," he said in an interview.

"There are many fake videos. But we must say frankly that there also are videos which could be authentic," he said. "Azerbaijan is a law-based state and we are reacting to such facts."

He said that Azerbaijan had also initiated 73 criminal cases of Armenian forces shelling civilian targets in Azerbaijan.

The attacks "claimed the lives of 94 civilians, including small children, women and elderly people," Aliyev said, adding that four Armenian separatist leaders -- including the president of the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh republic, Arayik Harutyunyan -- were charged with war crimes in absentia.

'Foreign mercenaries'

Aliyev told AFP his office as well as Azerbaijan's state security services are also investigating the use of foreign fighters by Armenian separatists.

Baku has claimed Armenians from the diaspora were deployed in Karabakh, while Yerevan has accused Turkey of sending mercenaries from northern Syria to fight alongside Azerbaijani forces -- a claim both Baku and its staunch ally Ankara have denied.

"The mercenaries were mostly ethnic Armenians from other countries," Aliyev said.

"Among those wanted are nationals of France, Georgia, residents of Crimea as well as fighters from the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)," he added.

PKK, which is based in Turkish and Iraqi Kurdistan, has for decades waged a deadly insurgency in Turkey and is listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

Aliyev said that a number of the criminal investigations "concern instances of Armenians targeting Azerbaijan's strategic infrastructure," including missiles launched towards Azerbaijan's Mingechavir hydropower plant and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that pumps Caspian Sea oil to Europe.

Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan nearly 30 years ago but has not been recognised internationally, even by Armenia.

The fighting that erupted on September 27 persisted despite efforts by France, Russia and the United States to broker ceasefires.

A Moscow-brokered peace deal was announced on November 10 after Azerbaijan's military overwhelmed Armenian separatist forces and threatened to advance on Karabakh's main city Stepanakert.

Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts seized during the post-Soviet war in the 1990s, which killed 30,000 people and displaced many Azerbaijanis that used to live there.

(With AFP inputs)

Azerbaijan is investigating the alleged war crimes committed by both Azerbaijan and Armenian forces during the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan's prosecutor general confirmed this to AFP on Wednesday.

Azerbaijan is investigating the alleged war crimes committed by both Azerbaijan and Armenian forces during the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan's prosecutor general confirmed this to AFP on Wednesday. Both countries have traded accusations of war crimes. The conflict overe Nagorno-Karabakh erupted in late September. Videos circulated on social media during the fighting that allegedly showed executions of Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijani troops and Armenian soldiers defiling the bodies of Azerbaijani servicemen. Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev told AFP his office was studying the footage as part of a probe into inhumane treatment of Azerbaijani prisoners and the defilement of bodies of Azerbaijani troops. "We have also initiated an investigation into inhumane treatment of Armenian servicemen that were taken prisoner," he said in an interview. "There are many fake videos. But we must say frankly that there also are videos which could be authentic," he said. "Azerbaijan is a law-based state and we are reacting to such facts." He said that Azerbaijan had also initiated 73 criminal cases of Armenian forces shelling civilian targets in Azerbaijan. The attacks "claimed the lives of 94 civilians, including small children, women and elderly people," Aliyev said, adding that four Armenian separatist leaders -- including the president of the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh republic, Arayik Harutyunyan -- were charged with war crimes in absentia. 'Foreign mercenaries' Aliyev told AFP his office as well as Azerbaijan's state security services are also investigating the use of foreign fighters by Armenian separatists. Baku has claimed Armenians from the diaspora were deployed in Karabakh, while Yerevan has accused Turkey of sending mercenaries from northern Syria to fight alongside Azerbaijani forces -- a claim both Baku and its staunch ally Ankara have denied. "The mercenaries were mostly ethnic Armenians from other countries," Aliyev said. "Among those wanted are nationals of France, Georgia, residents of Crimea as well as fighters from the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)," he added. PKK, which is based in Turkish and Iraqi Kurdistan, has for decades waged a deadly insurgency in Turkey and is listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. Aliyev said that a number of the criminal investigations "concern instances of Armenians targeting Azerbaijan's strategic infrastructure," including missiles launched towards Azerbaijan's Mingechavir hydropower plant and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that pumps Caspian Sea oil to Europe. Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan nearly 30 years ago but has not been recognised internationally, even by Armenia. The fighting that erupted on September 27 persisted despite efforts by France, Russia and the United States to broker ceasefires. A Moscow-brokered peace deal was announced on November 10 after Azerbaijan's military overwhelmed Armenian separatist forces and threatened to advance on Karabakh's main city Stepanakert. Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts seized during the post-Soviet war in the 1990s, which killed 30,000 people and displaced many Azerbaijanis that used to live there. (With AFP inputs)

Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan probes war crimes during the conflict

An Armenian fighter in camouflage with a Kalashnikov assault rifle slung over his shoulder peers through binoculars over towards an encampment of Azerbaijan troops.

The rugged valley in Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region delineates the new and ambiguous border that separates the Armenian fighters and Azerbaijan forces after a recent peace deal ended weeks of fierce clashes.

But wedged in the no man's land between the soldiers is the pomegranate farm planted a decade ago by Vardges Harutyunyan, who is nervous he will not be able to harvest the fruit this year.

"Now Azerbaijani soldiers are standing there," Harutyunyan, 64, tells AFP, looking toward the rows of carefully tended trees in the distance.

"If this is theirs, what can we do?"&nbsp;

Clashes erupted in late September between separatists backed by Armenia who had held the territory for some 30 years and Azerbaijan's army determined to wrest the mountainous region back under its control.

Several thousand were killed and many more displaced in the six weeks of fighting that was brought to a halt by a Russia-brokered peace agreement that saw the Armenians cede swathes of territory captured by Azerbaijan.

The new geography of Nagorno-Karabakh and several surrounding districts that were held by the separatists is now being overseen by a force of some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers, many of whom previously served in Syria.

But until they arrive to mark out land in the valley near the town of Askeran, Harutyunyan and the future of his fruit trees hangs in limbo.

- 'We gave half the country' -

Standing around the smouldering remains of a fire burning in rugged terrain, the former deputy head of the district's police conceded that the end of the war had ushered in new uncertainty.&nbsp;

"We gave away half of the country," Harutyunyan said.

In the hopes of finding clarity over access to his plot of land, Harutyunyan appeals to Arvid Gulyan, deputy head of agriculture in the district whose offices are in Askeran.

In Gulyan's office, Harutyunyan traces a finger over a map of the region on the wall to locate his farm.

The local official is sympathetic but unable to offer a solution.

"He wanted to know if the garden is on our side or on the side of the Azerbaijani side. But it's not clear," he told AFP.

"The borders haven't been established yet."

The poor town nestled between steep slopes is decorated with Christian crosses, war memorials and flags of the province that declared autonomy in the 1990s but was never recognised internationally. &nbsp;

The separatists announced self rule in a post-Soviet war that claimed 30,000 lives and saw Azerbaijani residents flee the region en masse.

With the realities of the deal still filtering through, the question of borders and many other things remains unclear.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's decision to agree to cede disputed territory has sparked a political crisis with his career hanging in the balance.

French President Emmanuel Macron this week also raised questions over "ambiguities" in the agreement pointing in particular to questions over refugees and Turkey's role in the truce.

In Askeran, Gulyan told AFP there had recently been unexplained power cuts and erratic gas supplies.

"We don't know what will happen next."

An Armenian fighter in camouflage with a Kalashnikov assault rifle slung over his shoulder peers through binoculars over towards an encampment of Azerbaijan troops.

An Armenian fighter in camouflage with a Kalashnikov assault rifle slung over his shoulder peers through binoculars over towards an encampment of Azerbaijan troops. The rugged valley in Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region delineates the new and ambiguous border that separates the Armenian fighters and Azerbaijan forces after a recent peace deal ended weeks of fierce clashes. But wedged in the no man's land between the soldiers is the pomegranate farm planted a decade ago by Vardges Harutyunyan, who is nervous he will not be able to harvest the fruit this year. "Now Azerbaijani soldiers are standing there," Harutyunyan, 64, tells AFP, looking toward the rows of carefully tended trees in the distance. "If this is theirs, what can we do?" Clashes erupted in late September between separatists backed by Armenia who had held the territory for some 30 years and Azerbaijan's army determined to wrest the mountainous region back under its control. Several thousand were killed and many more displaced in the six weeks of fighting that was brought to a halt by a Russia-brokered peace agreement that saw the Armenians cede swathes of territory captured by Azerbaijan. The new geography of Nagorno-Karabakh and several surrounding districts that were held by the separatists is now being overseen by a force of some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers, many of whom previously served in Syria. But until they arrive to mark out land in the valley near the town of Askeran, Harutyunyan and the future of his fruit trees hangs in limbo. - 'We gave half the country' - Standing around the smouldering remains of a fire burning in rugged terrain, the former deputy head of the district's police conceded that the end of the war had ushered in new uncertainty. "We gave away half of the country," Harutyunyan said. In the hopes of finding clarity over access to his plot of land, Harutyunyan appeals to Arvid Gulyan, deputy head of agriculture in the district whose offices are in Askeran. In Gulyan's office, Harutyunyan traces a finger over a map of the region on the wall to locate his farm. The local official is sympathetic but unable to offer a solution. "He wanted to know if the garden is on our side or on the side of the Azerbaijani side. But it's not clear," he told AFP. "The borders haven't been established yet." The poor town nestled between steep slopes is decorated with Christian crosses, war memorials and flags of the province that declared autonomy in the 1990s but was never recognised internationally. The separatists announced self rule in a post-Soviet war that claimed 30,000 lives and saw Azerbaijani residents flee the region en masse. With the realities of the deal still filtering through, the question of borders and many other things remains unclear. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's decision to agree to cede disputed territory has sparked a political crisis with his career hanging in the balance. French President Emmanuel Macron this week also raised questions over "ambiguities" in the agreement pointing in particular to questions over refugees and Turkey's role in the truce. In Askeran, Gulyan told AFP there had recently been unexplained power cuts and erratic gas supplies. "We don't know what will happen next."

Karabakh peace deal fuels confusion, anxiety over new borders

Azerbaijan said Friday its troops had entered a district bordering Nagorno-Karabakh that was previously home to Armenian separatists, as part of a Russian-brokered deal to end weeks of fighting in the region.

Troops moved into the district of Aghdam, one of three to be ceded, the Azerbaijan defence ministry said, a day after Armenian soldiers and tanks withdrew from the territory.

Azerbaijan is also to recover the Kalbajar district wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia on November 25 and the Lachin district by December 1.&nbsp;

Armenian residents of Aghdam hurriedly picked pomegranates from trees around their homes and packed vans with furniture before fleeing ahead of the deadline to cede the mountainous province.

Ahead of the handover, residents set their homes on fire, leaving nothing behind for their bitter rivals.

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Fierce clashes between Azerbaijan's forces and Armenian separatists broke out in late September in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The fighting lasted six weeks, leaving thousands dead and displacing many more.

The ex-Soviet adversaries agreed to end hostilities last week within the framework of a accord brokered by Moscow that includes deployment of Russian peacekeepers and the cession by Armenia of swathes of territory.

Turkey has said that some of its forces would also observe the ceasefire arrangements from a coordination centre in Azerbaijan, but Putin has emphasised that Turkish troops would not be present in Nagorno-Karabakh.

'Wild enemy'

In a televised address, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev called Armenians who destroyed property as they fled a "wild enemy".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenian-prime-minister-nikol-pashinyan-calls-for-halt-to-violence-over-peace-deal-343486">Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan calls for halt to violence over peace deal</a>

"They are embarrassing themselves in front of the whole world," he said.

On Thursday, people celebrated in Baku, with cars parading through the city with flags of Azerbaijan ally Russia and Turkey.

Separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh and several surrounding districts had captured the territory and claimed independence following a post-Soviet 1990s war that left around 30,000 dead.

Their claim was not recognised internationally, however, even by Armenia.&nbsp;

As part of the peace accord, Armenia agreed to return 15 to 20 per cent of Nagorno-Karabakh territory captured by Azerbaijan in recent fighting, including the historic town of Shusha.

Return of refugees

A Russian peacekeeping force totalling 1,960 troops has now deployed to the region, the defence ministry said Friday, and set up checkpoints and observation posts along the strategic Lachin corridor that connects Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.

While Armenians in the provinces to be handed over to Azerbaijan have left in an exodus, the Russian mission on Thursday said it had bussed 3,000 residents back to the regional capital Stepanakert and other areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that providing humanitarian aid to residents of "severely hit" Nagorno-Karabakh was now a priority, and called on the UN and the World Health Organization to send delegations to the region.

He maintained that the peacekeepers had "helped end the bloodshed and prevent further casualties."

Most of Azerbaijan's south-western district of Aghdam has been under the control of Armenian separatists since 1993. Before the post-Soviet war it was inhabited by 130,000 people -- mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis who were expelled from their homes.

'Ancestral lands'

In his national address Friday, Aliyev promised Azerbaijanis that they would return to "ancestral lands".&nbsp;

UNESCO on Friday said that Director General Audrey Azoulay had proposed a preliminary field mission to the region during a meeting with representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ensure the protection of cultural heritage sites.

Armenia's health ministry said this week that more than 2,400 troops had been killed in the fighting. Azerbaijan has not revealed its military fatalities.

The agreement to cede disputed territory spurred a political crisis in Armenia with the opposition flooding the streets of the capital Yerevan and calling for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation.

The presidency announced Friday the replacement of defence minister David Tonoyan.

Armenian police told AFP they had detained dozens of protesters Friday at a rally in Yerevan where demonstrators calling for Pashinyan to resign formed a human chain and blocked major roads.&nbsp;

Azerbaijan said Friday its troops had entered a district bordering Nagorno-Karabakh that was previously home to Armenian separatists, as part of a Russian-brokered deal to end weeks of fighting in the region.

Azerbaijan said Friday its troops had entered a district bordering Nagorno-Karabakh that was previously home to Armenian separatists, as part of a Russian-brokered deal to end weeks of fighting in the region. Troops moved into the district of Aghdam, one of three to be ceded, the Azerbaijan defence ministry said, a day after Armenian soldiers and tanks withdrew from the territory. Azerbaijan is also to recover the Kalbajar district wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia on November 25 and the Lachin district by December 1. Armenian residents of Aghdam hurriedly picked pomegranates from trees around their homes and packed vans with furniture before fleeing ahead of the deadline to cede the mountainous province. Ahead of the handover, residents set their homes on fire, leaving nothing behind for their bitter rivals. × Fierce clashes between Azerbaijan's forces and Armenian separatists broke out in late September in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The fighting lasted six weeks, leaving thousands dead and displacing many more. The ex-Soviet adversaries agreed to end hostilities last week within the framework of a accord brokered by Moscow that includes deployment of Russian peacekeepers and the cession by Armenia of swathes of territory. Turkey has said that some of its forces would also observe the ceasefire arrangements from a coordination centre in Azerbaijan, but Putin has emphasised that Turkish troops would not be present in Nagorno-Karabakh. 'Wild enemy' In a televised address, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev called Armenians who destroyed property as they fled a "wild enemy". Also read| Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan calls for halt to violence over peace deal "They are embarrassing themselves in front of the whole world," he said. On Thursday, people celebrated in Baku, with cars parading through the city with flags of Azerbaijan ally Russia and Turkey. Separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh and several surrounding districts had captured the territory and claimed independence following a post-Soviet 1990s war that left around 30,000 dead. Their claim was not recognised internationally, however, even by Armenia. As part of the peace accord, Armenia agreed to return 15 to 20 per cent of Nagorno-Karabakh territory captured by Azerbaijan in recent fighting, including the historic town of Shusha. Return of refugees A Russian peacekeeping force totalling 1,960 troops has now deployed to the region, the defence ministry said Friday, and set up checkpoints and observation posts along the strategic Lachin corridor that connects Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. While Armenians in the provinces to be handed over to Azerbaijan have left in an exodus, the Russian mission on Thursday said it had bussed 3,000 residents back to the regional capital Stepanakert and other areas. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that providing humanitarian aid to residents of "severely hit" Nagorno-Karabakh was now a priority, and called on the UN and the World Health Organization to send delegations to the region. He maintained that the peacekeepers had "helped end the bloodshed and prevent further casualties." Most of Azerbaijan's south-western district of Aghdam has been under the control of Armenian separatists since 1993. Before the post-Soviet war it was inhabited by 130,000 people -- mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis who were expelled from their homes. 'Ancestral lands' In his national address Friday, Aliyev promised Azerbaijanis that they would return to "ancestral lands". UNESCO on Friday said that Director General Audrey Azoulay had proposed a preliminary field mission to the region during a meeting with representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ensure the protection of cultural heritage sites. Armenia's health ministry said this week that more than 2,400 troops had been killed in the fighting. Azerbaijan has not revealed its military fatalities. The agreement to cede disputed territory spurred a political crisis in Armenia with the opposition flooding the streets of the capital Yerevan and calling for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation. The presidency announced Friday the replacement of defence minister David Tonoyan. Armenian police told AFP they had detained dozens of protesters Friday at a rally in Yerevan where demonstrators calling for Pashinyan to resign formed a human chain and blocked major roads.

Azerbaijan troops enter first district ceded by Armenia

Armenian President&nbsp;Armen Sarkissian on Friday appointed Vagharshak Harutyunyan as the&nbsp;new defence minister for the country post criticism&nbsp;over a ceasefire that secured advances for Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh following six weeks of fighting.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan has previously served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;defence minister of Armenia&nbsp;from 1999 to 2000. He has replaced&nbsp;Davit Tonoyan&nbsp;who held the job&nbsp;since May 2018.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/erdogan-macron-spat-over-karabakh-role-344287/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. That war left not only Nagorno-Karabakh itself but substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands.

A huge number of demonstrators have requested Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan quit over the truce that finished the heaviest battling in a long time in Nagorno-Karabakh, an area that is inside Azerbaijan however chiefly populated by ethnic Armenians.&nbsp;

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/armenia-and-azerbaijan-a-decades-long-bloody-rivalry-330840">Armenia and Azerbaijan: A decades-long bloody rivalry</a>

Under the Russia-facilitated bargain, Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian pioneers are giving over areas of an area which they had controlled for quite a long time yet had been kept on being globally perceived as a component of Azerbaijan.&nbsp;

During the ongoing battling, Azeri powers recovered huge pieces of an area that had been lost in a battle during the 1990s.&nbsp;

Azerbaijan's protection service said its powers had entered the Agdam locale, a region outside Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenian powers needed to surrender under the truce bargain.&nbsp;

Pashinyan, who has dismissed calls to leave, divulged a six-month activity plan on Wednesday which he said was intended to guarantee Armenia's solidness.&nbsp;

Before Tonoyan's excusal was declared, an underlying report by Armenian paper Aravot had said he had offered his acquiescence.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on Friday appointed Vagharshak Harutyunyan as the new defence minister for the country post criticism over a ceasefire that secured advances for Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh following six weeks of fighting.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on Friday appointed Vagharshak Harutyunyan as the new defence minister for the country post criticism over a ceasefire that secured advances for Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh following six weeks of fighting. Vagharshak Harutyunyan has previously served as the defence minister of Armenia from 1999 to 2000. He has replaced Davit Tonoyan who held the job since May 2018. Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. That war left not only Nagorno-Karabakh itself but substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands. A huge number of demonstrators have requested Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan quit over the truce that finished the heaviest battling in a long time in Nagorno-Karabakh, an area that is inside Azerbaijan however chiefly populated by ethnic Armenians. Also see: Armenia and Azerbaijan: A decades-long bloody rivalry Under the Russia-facilitated bargain, Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian pioneers are giving over areas of an area which they had controlled for quite a long time yet had been kept on being globally perceived as a component of Azerbaijan. During the ongoing battling, Azeri powers recovered huge pieces of an area that had been lost in a battle during the 1990s. Azerbaijan's protection service said its powers had entered the Agdam locale, a region outside Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenian powers needed to surrender under the truce bargain. Pashinyan, who has dismissed calls to leave, divulged a six-month activity plan on Wednesday which he said was intended to guarantee Armenia's solidness. Before Tonoyan's excusal was declared, an underlying report by Armenian paper Aravot had said he had offered his acquiescence.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan appointed as Armenia's new defence minister

Armenians have started returning to Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, following a ceasefire signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on Nov. 10.

Armenians return to Nagorno-Karabakh's main city after ceasefire with Azerbaijan

Deadline of Armenian pullout has been extended by 10 days. Russia has sent more troops to Nagorno-Karabakh. Watch this video to know more.

Deadline of Armenian pullout extended by 10 days, Russia sends more troops

Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh were seen torching their homes as they prepare to leave for Armenia. These people were setting their own homes to fire as they did not want Azerbaijanis to live there. WION brings you a report.

Azerbaijan to takeover Armenian territories in Nagorno Karabakh

Russia's President Vladimir Putin told his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Saturday to take care of Christian shrines.

Azerbaijan to take over Armenian territories in Karabakh

An Armenian opposition leader was arrested on Saturday (local time) under allegations that he was plotting to kill Armenian prime minister. The development has come amid political turmoil in Armenia that started when the prime minister signed a peace deal with Azerbaijan that did not go down too well domestically.

Artur Vanetsyan, the opposition leader was arrested after he was summoned to headquarters of the Armenian security forces. His lawyers, who told AFP of the allegations Vanetsyan faced, refuted them.

Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has faced violent street protests and&nbsp;displeasure from political parties after he signed a peace deal with Azerbaijan to end the fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Armenia faced heavy losses by technologically superior Azeri troops and Pashinyan agreed to cede large parts of the mostly Christian and ethnically Armenian region to Muslim-majority Azerbaijan in order to bring an end to the hostilities.

Vanetsyan, a former boss of Armenia's security services known for his links to Russia, was also briefly detained last week along with other senior opposition figures during anti-government protests which saw the prime minister called a "traitor".

Armenian security services announced the arrest late on Saturday of another unnamed man "with anti-government views" who was allegedly found in possession of a "large number of weapons."

He was preparing "an assassination attempt against a public figure and the seizure of power" in step with "politicians with anti-government views and their supporters."

(With AFP inputs)

An Armenian opposition leader was arrested on Saturday (local time) under allegations that he was plotting to kill Armenian prime minister. The development has come amid political turmoil in Armenia that started when the prime minister signed a peace deal with Azerbaijan that did not go down too well domestically.

An Armenian opposition leader was arrested on Saturday (local time) under allegations that he was plotting to kill Armenian prime minister. The development has come amid political turmoil in Armenia that started when the prime minister signed a peace deal with Azerbaijan that did not go down too well domestically. Artur Vanetsyan, the opposition leader was arrested after he was summoned to headquarters of the Armenian security forces. His lawyers, who told AFP of the allegations Vanetsyan faced, refuted them. Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has faced violent street protests and displeasure from political parties after he signed a peace deal with Azerbaijan to end the fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenia faced heavy losses by technologically superior Azeri troops and Pashinyan agreed to cede large parts of the mostly Christian and ethnically Armenian region to Muslim-majority Azerbaijan in order to bring an end to the hostilities. Vanetsyan, a former boss of Armenia's security services known for his links to Russia, was also briefly detained last week along with other senior opposition figures during anti-government protests which saw the prime minister called a "traitor". Armenian security services announced the arrest late on Saturday of another unnamed man "with anti-government views" who was allegedly found in possession of a "large number of weapons." He was preparing "an assassination attempt against a public figure and the seizure of power" in step with "politicians with anti-government views and their supporters." (With AFP inputs)

Armenian politician arrested over alleged plot to assassinate PM

Villagers in Kalbajar District outside of Nagorno-Karabakh region set their houses on fire on Saturday. The district is part of the territory previously controlled by Armenian Separatists which will now be handed over to Azerbaijan as a part of the peace agreement.&nbsp;

"This is my house, I can't leave it to the Turks," as Azerbaijanis are often called by Armenians, said one resident as he threw burning wooden planks and rags soaked in gasoline into a completely empty house. He was quoted by AFP.

"Everybody is going to burn down their house today... We were given until midnight to leave," he said.

"We also moved our parents' graves, the Azerbaijanis will take great pleasure in desecrating our graves. It's unbearable," he added.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-peacekeepers-enter-nagorno-karabakh-as-kremlin-seeks-un-presence-343168">Russian peacekeepers enter Nagorno-Karabakh as Kremlin seeks UN presence</a>

Armenia and Azerbaijan entered into an armed conflict in late September. The fight lasted for six weeks.

Armenia on Saturday said that 2,317 of it fighters were killed in the clashes, an increase of nearly 1,000 deaths compared to the last confirmed death toll among Armenian fighters.

Azerbaijan has not revealed its military casualties and the real toll after weeks of fighting is expected to be much higher.

(With AFP inputs)

Villagers in Kalbajar District outside of Nagorno-Karabakh region set their houses on fire on Saturday. The district is part of the territory previously controlled by Armenian Separatists which will now be handed over to Azerbaijan as a part of the peace agreement.

Villagers in Kalbajar District outside of Nagorno-Karabakh region set their houses on fire on Saturday. The district is part of the territory previously controlled by Armenian Separatists which will now be handed over to Azerbaijan as a part of the peace agreement. "This is my house, I can't leave it to the Turks," as Azerbaijanis are often called by Armenians, said one resident as he threw burning wooden planks and rags soaked in gasoline into a completely empty house. He was quoted by AFP. "Everybody is going to burn down their house today... We were given until midnight to leave," he said. "We also moved our parents' graves, the Azerbaijanis will take great pleasure in desecrating our graves. It's unbearable," he added. Also Read | Russian peacekeepers enter Nagorno-Karabakh as Kremlin seeks UN presence Armenia and Azerbaijan entered into an armed conflict in late September. The fight lasted for six weeks. Armenia on Saturday said that 2,317 of it fighters were killed in the clashes, an increase of nearly 1,000 deaths compared to the last confirmed death toll among Armenian fighters. Azerbaijan has not revealed its military casualties and the real toll after weeks of fighting is expected to be much higher. (With AFP inputs)

Armenian villagers burn their houses just ahead of Azerbaijan takeover

Residents of Kalbajar district, formerly under the control of Armenian separatists are gathering their belongings and vacating their homes as the date of takeover by Azerbaijan comes closer. Kalbajar District will be handed over to Azerbaijan as part of a Russian-brokered peace agreement that put a stop to weeks of fierce fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both the countries clashed with each other as hostilities broke out at the end of September over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. This region broke away from Azerbaijan in 1990s. More than 1400 people have died so far in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Nobody has ordered residents in the region to leave their homes but they fear retaliatory attacks from Azerbaijan once the takeover takes place on Sunday (November 15).

"I cried all night when I heard the news," says 68-year-old Hayastan Yeghiazaryan told AFP. Her 82 year-old husband Zohrab said that they were not even sure where they will go.

"With the help of the children, we'll try to rent a small apartment in Yerevan," he says, referring to the capital of Armenia, which has been rocked by political unrest since the country's leadership agreed to the peace accord that cedes swathes of territory in Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

"We might be able to come back, don't you think?" he says with a hopeful look.

Kalbajar's residents were encouraged to settle in this region of Azerbaijan by separatist leaders who had grabbed control of the area.

(With AFP inputs)

Residents of Kalbajar district, formerly under the control of Armenian separatists are gathering their belongings and vacating their homes as the date of takeover by Azerbaijan comes closer.

Residents of Kalbajar district, formerly under the control of Armenian separatists are gathering their belongings and vacating their homes as the date of takeover by Azerbaijan comes closer. Kalbajar District will be handed over to Azerbaijan as part of a Russian-brokered peace agreement that put a stop to weeks of fierce fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both the countries clashed with each other as hostilities broke out at the end of September over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. This region broke away from Azerbaijan in 1990s. More than 1400 people have died so far in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Nobody has ordered residents in the region to leave their homes but they fear retaliatory attacks from Azerbaijan once the takeover takes place on Sunday (November 15). "I cried all night when I heard the news," says 68-year-old Hayastan Yeghiazaryan told AFP. Her 82 year-old husband Zohrab said that they were not even sure where they will go. "With the help of the children, we'll try to rent a small apartment in Yerevan," he says, referring to the capital of Armenia, which has been rocked by political unrest since the country's leadership agreed to the peace accord that cedes swathes of territory in Karabakh to Azerbaijan. "We might be able to come back, don't you think?" he says with a hopeful look. Kalbajar's residents were encouraged to settle in this region of Azerbaijan by separatist leaders who had grabbed control of the area. (With AFP inputs)

Armenians flee homes as takeover by Azerbaijan looms

Tsophi is one of several villages in the Marneuli region of Georgia where ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijanis live and work together. Watch this report to know more.

Armenians and Azerbaijanis live in harmony in Georgian village​

The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is over, but violence is still on. Armenians have declared a war on their govt after it signed a peace deal with Azerbaijan following 6 weeks of fighting. WION's Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas: Armenia, Azerbaijan sign a peace deal

Russian military said that its peacekeepers have been deployed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region after a peace agreement was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Watch:

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According to Russia, 400 military personnel arrived in Armenia with peacekeepers in control of the Lachin corridor. Russia is expected to deploy armoured personnel carriers as well in an attempt to enforce peace in the region beset with war between &nbsp;Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The peace push comes as demonstrators took to streets in capital Yerevan against PM Pashinyan's decision to sign the peace deal with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan had said earlier that the deal was "unspeakably painful for me and for our people".

The peace deal ended over six weeks of war with 1,400 dead and several displaced. The two sides earlier reached a peace agreement in Moscow but it fell soon after as the two sides opened fire on each other.

Under the new agreement, Azerbaijan will retain control over areas seized in the fighting including Shusha which is a key town. Armenia on the other hand has agreed to a timetable to withdraw from large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The peace deal is being seen as a clear gain for Azerbaijan even as protests broke out in Armenia.

The Nagorno-Karabakh region has been a bone of contention between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1994 after the breakup of the former Soviet Union in the early 90s.

Russian military said that its peacekeepers have been deployed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region after a peace agreement was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Russian military said that its peacekeepers have been deployed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region after a peace agreement was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Watch: According to Russia, 400 military personnel arrived in Armenia with peacekeepers in control of the Lachin corridor. Russia is expected to deploy armoured personnel carriers as well in an attempt to enforce peace in the region beset with war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The peace push comes as demonstrators took to streets in capital Yerevan against PM Pashinyan's decision to sign the peace deal with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan had said earlier that the deal was "unspeakably painful for me and for our people". The peace deal ended over six weeks of war with 1,400 dead and several displaced. The two sides earlier reached a peace agreement in Moscow but it fell soon after as the two sides opened fire on each other. Under the new agreement, Azerbaijan will retain control over areas seized in the fighting including Shusha which is a key town. Armenia on the other hand has agreed to a timetable to withdraw from large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh. The peace deal is being seen as a clear gain for Azerbaijan even as protests broke out in Armenia. The Nagorno-Karabakh region has been a bone of contention between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1994 after the breakup of the former Soviet Union in the early 90s.

Protests in Armenia over peace deal with Azerbaijan as Russian peacekeepers arrive

Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia said they have signed a deal with to end the military conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region after more than a month of bloodshed.

Azeris celebrate after Nagorno-Karabakh conflict deal signed

After days of fierce clashes in disputed Nagorno Karabakh region, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia have finally signed a deal to end the war.

WION Dispatch: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia sign deal to end fight

Amid peace moves in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the Kremlin said today that there is no agreement on the deployment of Turkish peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Watch:&nbsp;

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Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia sign deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan-claims-capture-of-major-city-armenia-refutes-claim-341688">Also Read:&nbsp;Azerbaijan claims capture of major city, Armenia refutes claim</a>

Russia is set to dispatch nearly 2,000 peacekeepers as Russia brokered an agreement between the two warring countries set to come into effect at 1:00 am local time (2100 GMT).

However, there were protests in Armenia as people demonstrated against the reported loss of terrority to Azerbaijan.

Earlier, Azerbaijani President Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Putin had announced a ceasefire as reports indicated that Azerbaijan had gained territories.

Azerbaijan is set to retain control over areas gained during the fighting, including the key town of Shusha.

Russia informed that peacekeepers were on their way including military personnel and armoured personnel carriers.

After the ceasefire was announced, Armenia had said that combat operation was suspended.

Nagorno-Karabakh defence ministry said that the military death toll had climbed to 1,302 as Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a new agreement after over a month of fighting since agreeing to a ceasefire in Moscow earlier.

Amid peace moves in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the Kremlin said today that there is no agreement on the deployment of Turkish peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Amid peace moves in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the Kremlin said today that there is no agreement on the deployment of Turkish peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh. Watch: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia sign deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Also Read: Azerbaijan claims capture of major city, Armenia refutes claim Russia is set to dispatch nearly 2,000 peacekeepers as Russia brokered an agreement between the two warring countries set to come into effect at 1:00 am local time (2100 GMT). However, there were protests in Armenia as people demonstrated against the reported loss of terrority to Azerbaijan. Earlier, Azerbaijani President Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Putin had announced a ceasefire as reports indicated that Azerbaijan had gained territories. Azerbaijan is set to retain control over areas gained during the fighting, including the key town of Shusha. Russia informed that peacekeepers were on their way including military personnel and armoured personnel carriers. After the ceasefire was announced, Armenia had said that combat operation was suspended. Nagorno-Karabakh defence ministry said that the military death toll had climbed to 1,302 as Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a new agreement after over a month of fighting since agreeing to a ceasefire in Moscow earlier.

No agreement on deployment of Turkish peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh: Russia

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia sign deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry on Monday evening announced that it has accidentally shot down Russian military Mi-24 helicopter over Armenia border, killing two crew members.

The Ministry explained that the error occurred because the helicopter flew close to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, at the time when active military clashes are going on in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

"The flight took place in the dark, at low altitude, outside the air defence radar detection zone, the Russian Air Force helicopters have not previously been seen in the specified area. In the context of these factors and in light of the tense situation in the region and increased combat readiness in connection with possible provocations of the Armenian side, the duty combat crew made a decision to shoot to kill. The Azerbaijani side apologizes to the Russian side in connection with this tragic incident, which is accidental and was not directed against the Russian side," the ministry said. 
 
"The Azerbaijani side expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased crew members and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. The Azerbaijani side declares its readiness to pay appropriate compensation," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

The crash occurred at 6:00 p.m. local time as the helicopter was escorting a motorcade to the Russian military base. Two of the helicopter’s flight crew members were killed and one was evacuated with moderate injuries.

.Earlier in a statement, the&nbsp;Russian defence ministry said that&nbsp;"On November 9, at about 17.30 Moscow time, while escorting a convoy of the 102nd Russian military base through the territory of the Republic of Armenia in the airspace near the Armenian settlement of Yeraskh near the border of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Republic of Azerbaijan), Russian helicopter Mi-24 was subjected to fire from the ground from MANPADS. As a result of the missile hit, the helicopter lost control and fell in a mountainous area on the territory of Armenia,".

The helicopter was subjected to fire from the ground from a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The videos of the crash shot by locals in the area started doing rounds on Twitter.

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Video of Russian Mi-24 being shot down by Azerbaijani MANPAD <a href="https://t.co/7xz0z2kl8t">pic.twitter.com/7xz0z2kl8t</a>
— Vinod DX9 (@VinodDX9) <a href="https://twitter.com/VinodDX9/status/1325857134039293952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Russian Mi-24 shot down over Armenia. Details are being clarified. <a href="https://t.co/UYGUfErUc0">pic.twitter.com/UYGUfErUc0</a>
— ZOKA (@200_zoka) <a href="https://twitter.com/200_zoka/status/1325835111280087042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry on Monday evening announced that it has accidentally shot down Russian military Mi-24 helicopter over Armenia border, killing two crew members.

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry on Monday evening announced that it has accidentally shot down Russian military Mi-24 helicopter over Armenia border, killing two crew members. The Ministry explained that the error occurred because the helicopter flew close to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, at the time when active military clashes are going on in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. "The flight took place in the dark, at low altitude, outside the air defence radar detection zone, the Russian Air Force helicopters have not previously been seen in the specified area. In the context of these factors and in light of the tense situation in the region and increased combat readiness in connection with possible provocations of the Armenian side, the duty combat crew made a decision to shoot to kill. The Azerbaijani side apologizes to the Russian side in connection with this tragic incident, which is accidental and was not directed against the Russian side," the ministry said. "The Azerbaijani side expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased crew members and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. The Azerbaijani side declares its readiness to pay appropriate compensation," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said. The crash occurred at 6:00 p.m. local time as the helicopter was escorting a motorcade to the Russian military base. Two of the helicopter’s flight crew members were killed and one was evacuated with moderate injuries. .Earlier in a statement, the Russian defence ministry said that "On November 9, at about 17.30 Moscow time, while escorting a convoy of the 102nd Russian military base through the territory of the Republic of Armenia in the airspace near the Armenian settlement of Yeraskh near the border of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Republic of Azerbaijan), Russian helicopter Mi-24 was subjected to fire from the ground from MANPADS. As a result of the missile hit, the helicopter lost control and fell in a mountainous area on the territory of Armenia,". The helicopter was subjected to fire from the ground from a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The videos of the crash shot by locals in the area started doing rounds on Twitter. Video of Russian Mi-24 being shot down by Azerbaijani MANPAD pic.twitter.com/7xz0z2kl8t — Vinod DX9 (@VinodDX9) November 9, 2020 × Russian Mi-24 shot down over Armenia. Details are being clarified. pic.twitter.com/UYGUfErUc0 — ZOKA (@200_zoka) November 9, 2020 × (With inputs from agencies)

Azerbaijan admits accidentally shooting down the Russian helicopter, offers apology

The Russian Military's Mi-24 helicopter was shot down on Monday in Armenia, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said.

The incident took place near the border with Azerbaijan.

The ministry said in a statement that the Mi-24 helicopter was hit by a man-portable air defence system close to the border with Azerbaijan, whose forces are fighting Armenian-backed separatists in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The crash occurred in the evening&nbsp;at 18:00 local time as the helicopter was escorting a motorcade to the Russian military base. Two of the helicopter’s flight crew members were killed and one was evacuated with moderate injuries. 
 
Russia’s military base in Armenia is investigating to determine who was responsible for the downing of the helicopter, the statement said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The Russian Military's Mi-24 helicopter was shot down on Monday in Armenia, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said. The incident took place near the border with Azerbaijan.

The Russian Military's Mi-24 helicopter was shot down on Monday in Armenia, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said. The incident took place near the border with Azerbaijan. The ministry said in a statement that the Mi-24 helicopter was hit by a man-portable air defence system close to the border with Azerbaijan, whose forces are fighting Armenian-backed separatists in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The crash occurred in the evening at 18:00 local time as the helicopter was escorting a motorcade to the Russian military base. Two of the helicopter’s flight crew members were killed and one was evacuated with moderate injuries. Russia’s military base in Armenia is investigating to determine who was responsible for the downing of the helicopter, the statement said. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian military's Mi-24 helicopter shot down in Armenia, 2 killed

Azeris celebrated on the streets of Baku after President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday his country`s forces had taken Shusha, the second-largest city in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, but Armenian officials denied the city had been captured.

Azerbaijan claims capture of Karabakh's second-largest city Shusha, Armenia denies

Hundreds of Baku residents took to the streets on Sunday after President Ilham Aliyev said that, the Azeri forces have taken control over Shusha which is the second largest city in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.

Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: Azeri President claims gain over Shusha

Azeris celebrated in country's capital Baku after Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday that Azeri forces had captured second-largest city in Nagorno-Karabakh. The claim has been denied by Armenian officials.

"(This day) will become a great day in the history of Azerbaijan," Aliyev said after ge announced capture of the city of Shusha, also called Sushi by Armenia.

The city is of cultural and strategic importance to both countries and is located 15 km south of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh's largest city.

At least 1000 people have died in fighting that has gone on for nearly six weeks in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but has ethnic Armenian population.

In Baku, Azeris gathered in large numbers to celebrate, waving flags and chanting slogans, while drivers sounded their car horns.

Officials from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and Armenia`s Defence Ministry denied Aliyev`s statement. 
"Shushi remains an unattainable pipe dream for Azerbaijan. Despite heavy destruction, the fortress city withstands the blows of the enemy," the Nagorno-Karabakh Rescue Service said.

Armenia`s defence ministry said that heavy fighting for the strategic site continues, while the Defence Army of Nagorno-Karabakh said they had repelled multiple attempts by the Azeri side to advance on the town.

Emboldened by Turkish support, Azerbaijan has the upper hand in the bloodiest fighting in more than 25 years in the South Caucasus. In just over a month, it has retaken much of the land in and around Nagorno-Karabakh that it lost in a previous war over the territory in the 1990s.

The city could serve as a key staging post for an Azeri assault on the enclave`s largest city, Stepanakert. Both have come under heavy shelling in recent days. Azerbaijan`s defence ministry said allegations that it had shelled civilian areas were `misinformation`.

The town is also culturally significant to both sides, Thomas de Waal, analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said.

Its population was predominantly made up of Azeris before the previous conflict, making it historically significant for Azerbaijan. For Armenians, it is the site of Karabakh`s cathedral, de Waal said.

(With Reuters inputs)

Azeris celebrated in country's capital Baku after Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday that Azeri forces had captured second-largest city in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azeris celebrated in country's capital Baku after Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday that Azeri forces had captured second-largest city in Nagorno-Karabakh. The claim has been denied by Armenian officials. "(This day) will become a great day in the history of Azerbaijan," Aliyev said after ge announced capture of the city of Shusha, also called Sushi by Armenia. The city is of cultural and strategic importance to both countries and is located 15 km south of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh's largest city. At least 1000 people have died in fighting that has gone on for nearly six weeks in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but has ethnic Armenian population. In Baku, Azeris gathered in large numbers to celebrate, waving flags and chanting slogans, while drivers sounded their car horns. Officials from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and Armenia`s Defence Ministry denied Aliyev`s statement. "Shushi remains an unattainable pipe dream for Azerbaijan. Despite heavy destruction, the fortress city withstands the blows of the enemy," the Nagorno-Karabakh Rescue Service said. Armenia`s defence ministry said that heavy fighting for the strategic site continues, while the Defence Army of Nagorno-Karabakh said they had repelled multiple attempts by the Azeri side to advance on the town. Emboldened by Turkish support, Azerbaijan has the upper hand in the bloodiest fighting in more than 25 years in the South Caucasus. In just over a month, it has retaken much of the land in and around Nagorno-Karabakh that it lost in a previous war over the territory in the 1990s. The city could serve as a key staging post for an Azeri assault on the enclave`s largest city, Stepanakert. Both have come under heavy shelling in recent days. Azerbaijan`s defence ministry said allegations that it had shelled civilian areas were `misinformation`. The town is also culturally significant to both sides, Thomas de Waal, analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said. Its population was predominantly made up of Azeris before the previous conflict, making it historically significant for Azerbaijan. For Armenians, it is the site of Karabakh`s cathedral, de Waal said. (With Reuters inputs)

Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan claims capture of major city, Armenia refutes claim

Nagorno-Karabakh's largest city faced heavy shelling on Thursday, as Reporters Without Borders -- a nonprofit group -- called for the safe evacuation of civilians who it says are trapped in Stepanakert.

Reporters Without Borders called on the United Nations, the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan "to do everything possible" to allow an evacuation of civilians, including 80 local and foreign journalists.

The city was under shelling before turning off the handset to avoid the risk of detection.

Some reporters had left the city via a northern route because the main road to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, via the strategic region of Lachin was also under fire.

The ethnic Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh Emergency and Rescue Service said on Thursday that Stepanakert - called Khankendi by Azerbaijan - was being shelled by Azeri forces.

It said heavy artillery had also been used in the town of Martuni, known by Azerbaijan as Khojavend, while Shushi, or Shusha - the enclave's second-largest city - had been damaged by shelling.

Azerbaijan's defence ministry denied these accusations. It said the city of Terter and a nearby village, as well as villages in the Aghdam region in the east of the conflict zone, had been shelled. Ethnic Armenian forces denied this.

Azerbaijan's defence ministry also said combat operations continued "with varying intensity" around Aghdere - Martakert, in Armenian - and Khojavend.

The worst fighting in the South Caucasus for more than 25 years has underlined the influence of Turkey, an ally of Azerbaijan, in a region once part of the Soviet Union and long dominated by Moscow, which has a defence pact with Armenia.

Three ceasefires have failed to hold while attacks by both sides resumed within hours of an agreement by the warring sides last Friday to avoid targeting civilians.

The ethnic Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh defence ministry says 1,177 of its troops have been killed since Sept. 27. Azerbaijan does not disclose its military casualties, while Russia has estimated 5,000 deaths on both sides.

Nagorno-Karabakh's largest city faced heavy shelling on Thursday, as Reporters Without Borders -- a nonprofit group -- called for the safe evacuation of civilians who it says are trapped in Stepanakert.

Nagorno-Karabakh's largest city faced heavy shelling on Thursday, as Reporters Without Borders -- a nonprofit group -- called for the safe evacuation of civilians who it says are trapped in Stepanakert. Reporters Without Borders called on the United Nations, the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan "to do everything possible" to allow an evacuation of civilians, including 80 local and foreign journalists. The city was under shelling before turning off the handset to avoid the risk of detection. Some reporters had left the city via a northern route because the main road to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, via the strategic region of Lachin was also under fire. The ethnic Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh Emergency and Rescue Service said on Thursday that Stepanakert - called Khankendi by Azerbaijan - was being shelled by Azeri forces. It said heavy artillery had also been used in the town of Martuni, known by Azerbaijan as Khojavend, while Shushi, or Shusha - the enclave's second-largest city - had been damaged by shelling. Azerbaijan's defence ministry denied these accusations. It said the city of Terter and a nearby village, as well as villages in the Aghdam region in the east of the conflict zone, had been shelled. Ethnic Armenian forces denied this. Azerbaijan's defence ministry also said combat operations continued "with varying intensity" around Aghdere - Martakert, in Armenian - and Khojavend. The worst fighting in the South Caucasus for more than 25 years has underlined the influence of Turkey, an ally of Azerbaijan, in a region once part of the Soviet Union and long dominated by Moscow, which has a defence pact with Armenia. Three ceasefires have failed to hold while attacks by both sides resumed within hours of an agreement by the warring sides last Friday to avoid targeting civilians. The ethnic Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh defence ministry says 1,177 of its troops have been killed since Sept. 27. Azerbaijan does not disclose its military casualties, while Russia has estimated 5,000 deaths on both sides.

Heavy shelling hits Nagorno-Karabakh's largest city, no signs of truce

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but is populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians.

Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to defuse Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Russia said on Saturday it would provide "necessary" assistance to Yerevan in its conflict with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh if fighting reached Armenia's territory.

"Russia will render Yerevan all necessary assistance if clashes take place directly on the territory of Armenia," the foreign ministry in Moscow said, calling on the warring sides to immediately halt fire.&nbsp;

Earlier Saturday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin "urgent" consultations on security assistance.

Armenia and Azerbaijan had failed to reach agreement on a fresh ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during talks in Geneva Friday. They, however, vowed to now target civilians.

Both sides, the statement said, had "engaged in an open and substantive exchange of views aimed at clarifying their negotiating positions" on sticking points in the ceasefire agreement reached in Moscow on October 10.

That and two subsequent ceasefire agreements -- the most recent one negotiated in Washington less than a week ago -- have failed to halt the bloodshed.

On Saturday,&nbsp;Pasninyan sent the letter to Putin after Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to agree a fresh ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during talks in Geneva on Friday and as fighting continued overnight and Saturday morning.

Russia has a military base in Armenia and has a defence treaty with Yerevan.

The announcement, released by the Armenian foreign ministry,&nbsp;raised fears of an escalation in fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Some observers are concerned it risks sucking Yerevan's ally Russia and Turkey, which backs Baku, into the conflict.

Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov sat down for face-to-face talks on Friday aimed at reining in more than a month of clashes in the disputed region that have killed more than a thousand people. &nbsp;

Mediators from France, Russia and the US -- known as the "Minsk Group" -- said in a statement they had urged the sides to fully implement a previously agreed ceasefire.

While Friday's statement made no mention of fresh ceasefire commitments, it said the sides had "agreed to take a number of steps on an urgent basis."

They had committed to "not deliberately target civilian populations or non-military objects in accordance with international humanitarian law." They had also agreed to "actively engage in the implementation of the recovery and exchange of remains on the battlefield."

Also, they committed to provide written comments and questions related to discussions around introducing mechanisms to verify if a ceasefire was being upheld -- viewed as a key priority in the talks.

"The co-chairs will continue working with the sides intensively to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict," Friday's statement said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a bitter conflict over Karabakh since Armenian separatists backed by Yerevan seized control of the mountainous province in a 1990s war that left 30,000 people dead.

Karabakh's self-declared independence has not been recognised internationally, even by Armenia, and it remains a part of Azerbaijan under international law.

The current clashes broke out on September 27 and fighting has persisted despite the repeated international attempts to secure a ceasefire.

Fighting has intensified in recent days, including with renewed shelling and rocket attacks on civilian areas.

More than 1,200 people from both sides have been reported dead since the fighting began, and thousands forced from their homes.

Azerbaijan has not released military casualty figures and the death toll is believed to be higher, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying last week close to 5,000 people had been killed.

(with inputs from agencies)

Russia said on Saturday it would provide "necessary" assistance to Yerevan in its conflict with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh if fighting reached Armenia's territory.

Russia said on Saturday it would provide "necessary" assistance to Yerevan in its conflict with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh if fighting reached Armenia's territory. "Russia will render Yerevan all necessary assistance if clashes take place directly on the territory of Armenia," the foreign ministry in Moscow said, calling on the warring sides to immediately halt fire. Earlier Saturday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin "urgent" consultations on security assistance. Armenia and Azerbaijan had failed to reach agreement on a fresh ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during talks in Geneva Friday. They, however, vowed to now target civilians. Both sides, the statement said, had "engaged in an open and substantive exchange of views aimed at clarifying their negotiating positions" on sticking points in the ceasefire agreement reached in Moscow on October 10. That and two subsequent ceasefire agreements -- the most recent one negotiated in Washington less than a week ago -- have failed to halt the bloodshed. On Saturday, Pasninyan sent the letter to Putin after Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to agree a fresh ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during talks in Geneva on Friday and as fighting continued overnight and Saturday morning. Russia has a military base in Armenia and has a defence treaty with Yerevan. The announcement, released by the Armenian foreign ministry, raised fears of an escalation in fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Some observers are concerned it risks sucking Yerevan's ally Russia and Turkey, which backs Baku, into the conflict. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov sat down for face-to-face talks on Friday aimed at reining in more than a month of clashes in the disputed region that have killed more than a thousand people. Mediators from France, Russia and the US -- known as the "Minsk Group" -- said in a statement they had urged the sides to fully implement a previously agreed ceasefire. While Friday's statement made no mention of fresh ceasefire commitments, it said the sides had "agreed to take a number of steps on an urgent basis." They had committed to "not deliberately target civilian populations or non-military objects in accordance with international humanitarian law." They had also agreed to "actively engage in the implementation of the recovery and exchange of remains on the battlefield." Also, they committed to provide written comments and questions related to discussions around introducing mechanisms to verify if a ceasefire was being upheld -- viewed as a key priority in the talks. "The co-chairs will continue working with the sides intensively to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict," Friday's statement said. Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a bitter conflict over Karabakh since Armenian separatists backed by Yerevan seized control of the mountainous province in a 1990s war that left 30,000 people dead. Karabakh's self-declared independence has not been recognised internationally, even by Armenia, and it remains a part of Azerbaijan under international law. The current clashes broke out on September 27 and fighting has persisted despite the repeated international attempts to secure a ceasefire. Fighting has intensified in recent days, including with renewed shelling and rocket attacks on civilian areas. More than 1,200 people from both sides have been reported dead since the fighting began, and thousands forced from their homes. Azerbaijan has not released military casualty figures and the death toll is believed to be higher, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying last week close to 5,000 people had been killed. (with inputs from agencies)

No fresh ceasefire commitment from Karabakh warring sides; Russia aids Armenia

Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that there will be no bilateral talks or meetings between Armenia & Azerbaijan during the Geneva talks on (Friday) October 30, 2020.

Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: No bilateral talks between diplomats during Geneva

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