Karabakh President admits "several dozen" soldiers taken captive

PanARMENIAN.Net - Several dozen servicemen of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Defense Army have been captured by Azerbaijan near the village of Khtsaberd, Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan said Wednesday, December 16. The village was under the Armenian side's control until at least December 12.

Video and photo evidence of Azerbaijani troops "disarming and capturing some 100 new Armenian prisoners of war" began emerging on social media on Tuesday. The Defense Army said Wednesday morning it has lost contact with its troops near the village of Khtsaberd and a neighboring town, Hin Tagher.

Harutyunyan said Wednesday that the safe return of those missing should be a priority now.

"Breaches of the trilateral statement from November 9 and violations of the contact line disrespect both the mediating efforts and the peacekeeping mandate undertaken by Russia," Harutyunyan said.

"Alongside the military-political leadership of Armenia, we are working with the Russian side to prevent Azerbaijan's provocations, while the Defense Army is committed to its duties."

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev on November 9 signed a statement to end the war in Karabakh after almost 45 days. Under the deal, the Armenian side has returned all the seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities.