NKR forces retrieve downed helicopter crew remainsNovember 22, 2014 - 12:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic launched a special operation to discover the fate of the crew members of the helicopter downed by Azerbaijan on Nov 12. “As a result of the operation, the body of one crew member, the remains of two pilots and some helicopter wreckage were recovered,” the NKR defense army reported. “Azeri army lost 2 soldiers in an attempt to curb the operation, with no losses on the NKR side reported,” the statement said. Mi-24 helicopter was shot down during a training flight as part of drills held jointly by Armenia and Artsakh. The NKR State Commission on prisoners of war, hostages and the missing persons earlier appealed to the International Committee of Red Cross mission in the NKR with regards to the fate of the crewmembers, one of whom could possibly survive the crash. However, Azerbaijan continued to keep the site under fire. On Nov 22, the NKR President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree to decorate posthumously with the medal for courage crew members of the NKR Air Forces Mi-24 helicopter downed by Azeri armed forces - major Sergey Sahakyan, senior lieutenant Sargis Nazaryan, and lieutenant Azat Sahakyan. Related issues: The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party. Russia confirms start of withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh The Kremlin has confirmed reports about the start of the withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh. France recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan France on April 16 said it had recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Azerbaijan. Protesters rally as Georgia debates 'foreign agent' bill Georgian critics label the bill "the Russian law", comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent. |