Russian peacekeeping forces evacuate 5,000 people from the Nagorno-Karabakh region

Russian peacekeeping forces evacuated 5,000 people from 3 regions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which witnessed fighting during the past two days between Azerbaijani forces and local fighters from the region.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement today: “Since the start of hostilities, Russian peacekeepers have evacuated civilians from the areas of Mardikert, Martuni and Askeran, and about 5,000 people were transferred to the headquarters of the peacekeeping forces group.”

The Ministry indicated that peacekeeping forces continue to carry out missions in the Karabakh region and will maintain continuous interaction with Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert, with the aim of preventing bloodshed, respecting humanitarian law with regard to civilians, and ensuring the safety of peacekeeping forces.

Through mediation by the leadership of the Russian peacekeeping forces, the two parties to the conflict reached on Wednesday an agreement on a complete cessation of hostilities, and the start of discussion of a future peace treaty.

Inas Abdulkareem