As the conflict with Armenia escalates on the border, a separatist government in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh held elections
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published a warning to Azerbaijan on Saturday, threatening Baku with the placement of troops on their shared border, amid elections held by a separatist government in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The video indicated Iranian forces were concentrated on the shared border with Azerbaijan and Armenia. The IRGC proclaimed its readiness to support Yerevan.
Russian sources also claimed that the Iranians were ready to transfer military units to Armenia for a support operation. A day earlier, the Kremlin summoned Yerevan’s envoy to Moscow over “unfriendly steps,” amid joint military drills between the U.S. and Armenians.
The Russian foreign ministry also complained about a trip to Kyiv by the Armenian Prime Minister’s wife, and Yerevan’s move to join the International Criminal Court, as well as the detention of a blogger for Russia’s Sputnik media outlet.
The statement concluded that the Armenian envoy was given a “tough presentation,” but stressed that Russia and Armenia “remain allies and all agreements on developing the strengthening of the partnership will be fulfilled.”
In 2020, Azerbaijan fought Armenia in an ongoing conflict around the Nagorno-Karabakh region, with the latest ceasefire being brokered by Moscow which includes the presence of Russian peacekeepers.
Also on Saturday, a separatist government in Nagorno-Karabakh set out to elect a new leader after its previous president, Arayik Haratyunyan, resigned amid widespread food and fuel shortages.
Haratyunyan suggested in his resignation letter that his presidency was an obstacle to negotiations with Azerbaijan and that “difficulties in the country have significantly reduced the trust in the authorities.”
Azerbaijan called the latest election in Nagorno-Karabakh “yet another extremely provocative step” and “a clear violation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” as quoted by AFP.
Source » i24news