Azerbaijan's downing of gunship "an aggression against Armenia, Russia"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan's destruction of the Russian military helicopter on the sovereign territory of Armenia is a clear aggression and attack on both Armenia and Russia, chief adviser to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Vagharshak Harutyunyan said Monday, November 9, Armenpress reports.

Azerbaijan earlier apologized for "accidentally shooting down" the Mi-24 gunship over Armenia, saying it is "ready to pay compensation". Two members of the crew died while a third was injured in the crash, the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier. The Mi-24 aircraft accompanying a convoy of the Russian military base in Armenia was shot down with a man-portable air-defense system (MANPAD), the Ministry added, stressing that the incident took place in the airspace of Armenia, outside the combat zone.

"Azerbaijan was well aware that the helicopter flew within the territory of Armenia and did not pose a threat. They shot down the helicopter nonetheless," Harutyunyan said.

"On the other hand, a helicopter of the 102nd Russian military base was shot down, and an attack on helicopters and aircraft is considered an attack on that particular country, in this case, Russia. So, two international laws have been grossly violated here."

The aide to the Armenian Prime Minister believes it necessary to also consider the direct participation of Turkey in the attack on the helicopter belonging to Armenia's ally, since the helicopter was shot down from Nakhichevan, which is under Turkish control.

"It is obvious that the nature and direction of the helicopter's flight could not be considered a threat to the Azerbaijani-Turkish side, which means any arguments are unacceptable," Harutyunyan added.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and terrorist mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. 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.