On Thursday, the Armenian Defence Ministry announced the deployment of Russian peacekeepers near the border with Azerbaijan amid increased tensions between the two neighbours in recent weeks. The two sides also continue to accuse each other of violating the fragile ceasefire.
The Ministry stated that troops were deployed in the Tavush region bordering Azerbaijan, particularly in the Voskepar community, and “construction works are carried out to build rear support facilities for border guards” within the framework of Armenia-Russian cooperation.
Regarding media reports abt the presence of Russian servicemen in Tavush region, partic-ly in Voskepar community, we inform, that Russian border guards've been deployed in mentioned area & the construction works're carried out for ensuring the rear facilities of the border guards
— MoD of Armenia 🇦🇲 (@ArmeniaMODTeam) August 5, 2021
The announcement came as General Rustam Muradov, Commander of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), visited the country on Thursday. Muradov held a meeting with newly appointed Armenian Defence Minister Arshak Karapetyan to discuss issues related to the Russian peacekeeping mission and the tense situation on the border.
Last month, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed placing Russian border posts along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border to ensure proper demarcation. Pashinyan said that member states of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) could monitor the region to secure a peaceful border limitation.
Meanwhile, Moscow fears that the situation could go out of control and lead to a major conflict in the region. On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia is “seriously concerned” over the frequent armed incidents in certain border sections.
“It is particularly alarming given the fact that human casualties from both sides accompany those incidents,” said Alexander Bikantov, Deputy Director of Press of the Russian Foreign Ministry. He stressed that all issues should be resolved through political-diplomatic channels and affirmed Russia’s willingness to help with settling the border dispute. “In this regard, we call on all the sides to refrain from further actions that can aggravate the situation,” Bikantov added.
On Wednesday, Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry accused Armenian troops of firing at Azerbaijani positions near Kalbajar. In addition, Azer News reported on Thursday that Armenian units fired at three other regions apart from Kalbajar. Azerbaijan’s military has accused Armenian troops of planting landmines in areas recaptured by Azerbaijan during last year’s Nagorno-Karabakh war. In June, two journalists and an Azerbaijani official were killed in a landmine blast in Kalbajar. Last month, Azerbaijan claimed that an Armenian sniper had killed one of its soldiers.
Also Read: Azerbaijan Captures Six Armenian Soldiers Amid Escalating Border Tensions
Armenia, on the other hand, has blamed Azerbaijan for provoking skirmishes near the border. Three Armenian soldiers were killed and several wounded in July in a shootout along the border near Gegharkunik province. Armenia has also reported several incidents where Azerbaijani soldiers attempted to breach the border, including through a drone.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been engaged in constant conflict over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh since the fall of the Soviet Union. In September 2020, both sides fought a devastating war that led to the worst clashes in decades, killing thousands and displacing more than 100,000 people. The fighting ended in November after Armenian and Azerbaijan signed a Russian-brokered ceasefire deal, which stated that Azerbaijan would remain in control of areas it recaptured from Armenia and Russian troops would be deployed in the region to ensure that calm prevails.