October 17, 2020 - 13:01 AMT
Karabakh: Armenia expects Russia to take "more effective, specific measures"

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that he expects Russia to take "more effective and specific measures" to stop the Azerbaijani and Turkish offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh.

In an interview with France's Libération, Pashinyan said Russia is Armenia’s strategic partner, as well as a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

"We hope that Russia will take more effective and specific measures to stop this Azerbaijani and Turkish offensive. I believe that other countries in the Minsk Group and in the international community should help Russia achieve this goal," the Armenian PM said.

Asked what he expects from France, Pashinyan said "the same we do from Russia, but Russia has more leverage and influence in the region. France should make the same effort and encourage Russia in this strategy."

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and Syrian and Libyan 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.