Downing helicopter in Artsakh is challenge for Russia: expert

PanARMENIAN.Net - Downing of a helicopter operating a training flight in Nagorno Karabakh is a challenge for Russia, according to an expert of the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth.

A Mi-24 helicopter of the Karabakh army was shot during a training flight as result of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani armed forces at about 1pm local time. According to the NKR Defense Ministry, the attack took place not far from the line of contact. Azeris then continued firing in the direction of the site.

According to Denis Dvornikov, such behavior could lead to large-scale hostilities. “In this case, the Russian army will at least have to defend the civilian population in Artsakh,” he told PanARMENIAN.Net adding that the incident is the result of Azerbaijani commanders’ fatal stupidity or a well-thought provocation to ‘set South Caucasus on fire.’

As to the measures to be taken by the Armenian side, Dvornikov said the most important thing is not to lose temper.

“The first wish would of course be to force the aggressor into the cold waters of the Caspian Sea. However, everything should be done to find a diplomatic solution,” he said, adding that the international institutions should call the killers to account.

On his Facebook page, Dvornikov posted: “A friendly talk with an aggressor is equal to loss of reputation. Politicians, who continue chewing the Caspian caviar and turn blind eye to the situation, are acting against the interests of the international community. We are on the verge of a big fire in the South Caucasus and a new war will be different from the previous one. It will bring humanitarian catastrophe and possible involvement of Iran and turkey will turn the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict into a full-scale slaughter. Is this what the people in Azerbaijan want?”

Citing its sources, Razm.info reported that 3 servicemen were killed.

According to Haqqin.az, the helicopter fell down at the territory controlled by Azerbaijan and caught fire.

The armed forces of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are holding join drills , which involve 47,000 people.