Russian envoy: Peacekeepers' deployment not discussed with Pashinyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian envoy to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin said after a meeting of ambassadors with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday, October 12 that the issue of deploying peacekeepers in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone has not been discussed.

"There was no mention of that (deployment of peacekeepers - Ed.) today," Aysor.am cited Kopyrkin as saying.

According to him, Pashinyan gave his assessments of the situation, expressed gratitude to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and the Russian president for their ceasefire efforts.

"Russia is doing everything for the ceasefire to function. Efforts are made by Russian diplomacy and personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the clashes. We are in contact with all parties," the ambassador said.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. Armenia and Karabakh have introduced martial law and total mobilization. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. International and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages, as well as the iconic Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. Before a humanitarian ceasefire could begin on October 10, Azerbaijan launched a new offensive and struck settlements both in Karabakh and Armenia.