Shoygu raises concerns with Turkey over deployment of terrorists in Karabakh front

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu has spoken to his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar over the phone and expressed concern over reports of deployment of mercenaries from Middle Eastern terrorist groups to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

Shoygu discussed the matter with Akar on Monday, October 12, days after holding talks with Armenian and Azerbaijani Defense Ministers Davit Tonoyan and Zakir Hasanov.

According to an official statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense is making efforts to help stabilize the situation on the ground, TASS reported on Tuesday.

“The Russian Defense Ministry takes active part in the realization of initiatives for the immediate stabilization of the situation in Karabakh”, the Ministry noted.

In particular, the Ministry added, Shoygu is holding talks with his counterparts from different countries on the matter.

“The main objective of such work is the immediate cessation of hostilities in Karabakh and the transition to negotiations between the conflicting sides for the normalization of the situation in the region,” the statement said.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and mercenaries deployed by Ankara, 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. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages. Although a humanitarian ceasefire was supposed to begin on October 10, Azerbaijan has renewed hostilities along the line of contact.

Donations can be made to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, which has launched a fundraising campaign to support Karabakh amid Azerbaijan's aggression.